The Science of Leadership

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by retired U.S. Air Force General Ellen Pawlikowski (Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering, former Commander of Air Force Materiel Command) to dissect the often-misunderstood component of Caring For Your People. General Pawlikowski explains that true leadership Caring For is not "soft" or "sentimental" but rather a strategic necessi...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by retired Lieutenant General Scott Dingle, the 45th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, to explore the vital concept of the "Ever Learner"—a leader committed to continuous growth and adaptability. General Dingle defines the Ever Learner as someone with the mindset and practice of continuously seeking knowledge, skills, and exp...

While conventional wisdom places the leader at the top, Tom Collins and Justin Hamrick challenge this view to explore Leading Up—the art of influencing those in authority above you, often without holding a formal leadership position. This concept is vital because success often depends on bringing ground-level insight to the ultimate decision-makers. The hosts discuss why leading up is a moral impe...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Mario Fields, a combat veteran, speaker, and founder of Still Serving, Inc. They explore the core leadership force of empowerment, defining it as setting conditions for success for those you lead.   Sergeant Major Fields emphasizes that empowerment must start with trusting yourself...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins, MD, and co-host Justin Hamrick dissect the powerful, often misunderstood, concept of servant leadership. The conversation addresses the notion that to succeed, leaders must "step on other people," arguing instead that sacrificial leadership—prioritizing follower growth and well-being over personal glory—is the true path to organizatio...

In this insightful episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins, MD, talks with Bob Tiede, author of Success Unlocked: The Transformative Power of Questions and long-time campus ministry leader. They explore the core idea of leading with questions, which Bob confesses changed him from a "benevolent dictator" into a far more effective leader.   Bob argues that leading with questions is th...

In this electrifying episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins welcomes retired Navy two-star Admiral Mike Manazir—Top Gun fighter pilot, former commander of the USS Nimitz, and author of Learn to Lead to Win. They explore the foundational leadership concept of trust, revealing why it's not just a soft skill, but an operational necessity, especially in high-stakes environments. Admira...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by West Point instructor and leadership expert Doug Crandall to discuss a core trait of great leaders: building people. Doug introduces the concept that leaders are always either building people up or diminishing them. He defines a builder as a leader who makes people feel more capable, more confident, and more valued. Doug shares...

In this timely and timeless episode of The Science of Leadership, hosts Tom Collins and Justin Hamrick dive into the vital importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect. Inspired by a personal conversation with his son, Tom confronts the damaging mindset of withholding respect until it is "earned." The hosts delineate two critical forms of respect: Earned Respect: Deep admiration based...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with Amanda Schagane, an expert in leadership and organizational development at the University of Kentucky HealthCare. They explore the idea that effective communication is the most vital leadership skill, calling it a "superpower" that is often underdeveloped.   Amanda defines effective communication not just as the ability...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with Rob Carter, a visionary leader who recently retired after a 31-year career at FedEx. They discuss the invaluable leadership skill of  seeing around corners—the ability to anticipate what's coming before it arrives and lead through uncertainty with clarity and conviction.   Rob shares that the key to this skill is a willi...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by Dutch organizational change expert Jurriaan Kamer, co-author of unblock and Formula X. Jurriaan challenges the conventional wisdom that an organization's success depends on having the "right people on the bus". Instead, he argues that the key to building high-performing, thriving teams is a leader's focus on how the team w...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Dave Logan, a professor at the University of Southern California and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Tribal Leadership. They discuss the fascinating world of organizational culture and how leaders can build a truly great one.   Dr. Logan explains that an organization's "tribe" is the informal network of people wh...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, hosts Tom Collins and Dr. Justin Hamrick tackle a topic that may seem counterintuitive to many: the importance allowing mistakes has in effective leadership. They argue that in a world demanding perfection, a culture that allows for mistakes is the only way to foster true innovation and growth. Dr. Hamrick kicks off the discussion by questioning whethe...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Jay Lemons, President of Academic Search and former president of Susquehanna University, to discuss what organizations truly look for in their leaders. Drawing from a national study and his extensive experience in executive recruitment, Dr. Lemons outlines the most sought-after leadership competencies. Timeless Virtues: Dr....

In this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership  Tom Collins is joined by retired U.S. Air Force General Bob Kehler, former Commander of United States Strategic Command as they discuss the essential role of trust in effective leadership and how leaders can build that among those they lead. General Kehler shares insightful and entertaining stories from his career, from being a Lieutenant in a Minute Ma...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by Isabelle Fortin, founder of Against the Ordinary, to delve into the transformative concept of human-centered leadership. Isabelle shares her unique journey, shaped by her service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where she observed a stark contrast between military leadership training and the civilian corporate world. She argues...

In this insightful segment from The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins sits down with General Pete Chiarelli, former Chief of Staff of the Army, to unpack the critical concept of second and third-order effects in decision-making. General Chiarelli explains that every action has ripple effects, often overlooked when leaders are pressured to solve immediate problems. 🔸Anticipating Downstream I...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Debbie Heiser, an applied developmental psychologist, founder of The Mentor Project, and author of The Mentorship Edge. They explore the science and power of mentorship, delving into its core components and why it's vital for leadership development and legacy building. Dr. Heiser defines mentorship through five key principl...

In this compelling episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins sits down with Admiral Jim Loy, former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, to explore the profound impact of remaining calm and maintaining composure under pressure. Admiral Loy shares a pivotal, "big screen worthy" story from his early days as a young ensign during a treacherous North At...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Jay Conger, the Henry R. Kravis Chair of Leadership Studies at Claremont McKenna College and author of The Necessary Art of Persuasion. They redefine persuasion not as a manipulative sales tactic, but as a crucial leadership conversation designed to solve problems or seize opportunities.   Dr. Conger outlines four essential...

In this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership , Tom Collins is joined by Dr. Denny Lund, former Chief Medical Officer of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and a seasoned pediatric surgeon. They delve into the crucial role of competence in leadership, especially in high-stakes environments where lives, careers, or missions are on the line. Dr. Lund defines competence as having diverse exper...

In this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership  , Tom Collins welcomes Dr. Kate Smith, Senior Associate Dean of Biology Education and Professor of Medical Science at Brown University, to delve into the powerful concept of Radical Candor. Dr. Smith explains that Radical Candor, as defined by Kim Scott, is about "how to say what you mean without being mean". It requires both caring personally and chall...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins welcomes Matt Abrahams, a strategic communication lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, author, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. They dive deep into the concept of strategic communication, which Matt defines as the application of clear goals and purpose to our communication, whether handling a cr...

Join Tom Collins on this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership  as he welcomes Dr. David Ulrich, a leading authority on leadership and human resource development, and co-founder of the RBL Group. Dr. Ulrich, author of over 30 books, including The Leadership Code, shares insights into the essential framework for leadership effectiveness, outlining its five key rules: strategy, execution, managing tal...