The Science of Leadership

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 Man intercontinental ballistic wing i...

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 that many organizations promote in...

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 Impacts: He shares a powerful exampl...

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 principles, stemming from the developmental...

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 Atlantic storm in 1965. He recounts a...

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 experience and knowledge pertinent to ru...

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 challenging directly. The conversation ex...

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 crisis or propagating a message throu...

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 talent, building the future, and perso...

In this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership , host Tom Collins is joined by Amanda Riegel, founder and CEO of Excelle, to explore the critical role of transparency in leadership.

This intriguing conversation delves into the nuances of transparent leadership and its essential connection to trust and effective decision-making. Amanda shares her journey from education to founding Excelle, a company dedicated to empowering women leader...

In this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership , host Tom Collins explores the profound connection between sleep and leadership with eminent sleep researcher Dr. Phil Gehrman. The conversation delves into how proper rest influences decision-making, innovation, and the overall well-being of leaders. With fascinating anecdotes and empirical studies, this episode reveals what most leaders overlook — the critical role sleep plays in susta...

In this enlightening episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership , host Tom Collins delves into the nuanced world of leadership coaching alongside seasoned expert David Parks.

Collins, drawing from his experience as both a beneficiary and provider of leadership coaching, guides the conversation to explore the profound impact that executive coaching can have on leadership development. Whether it is overcoming obstacles or crafting strategie...

The journey to becoming an effective leader is underpinned by preparation, anticipation, and attention to the legacy of impact. Admiral Michael Rogers' conversation with Tom Collins on the  @TheScienceofLeadership  podcast reveals profound lessons rooted in military leadership that resonate beyond the battlefield and into the fabric of organizational success.

Rogers brings to light his approach to leadership honed over decades, emp...

Join us on this episode of the  @TheScienceofLeadership  podcast, as host Tom Collins sits down with renowned leadership expert Jim Kouzes to explore the deeply relational aspect of leadership. Emphasizing the heart of leadership, specifically through Kouzes' and Barry Posner's concept of "Encouraging the Heart," this conversation delves into how expressing appreciation and recognizing individual contributions are essential compone...

In this engaging episode of the  @TheScienceofLeadership  podcast, host Tom Collins welcomes esteemed guest General Frank Grass, former Commanding General of the U.S. National Guard, to discuss the pivotal role of delegation in effective leadership. General Grass draws from his extensive military experience to offer insightful perspectives on why delegation is not just beneficial but essential for successful leadership. This episod...

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Drs. Tom Collins and Justin Hamrick explore the often-overlooked role of fun in effective leadership. They discuss how incorporating fun into leadership can boost morale, strengthen relationships, and improve performance. The conversation includes definitions of fun in the workplace, real-life examples of leaders who successfully integrate fun into their teams, and the neuroscience behi...

Start with purpose, but not just any purpose. Understand the core of being "on-purpose" rather than "purpose-driven."

Join Tom Collins on this episode of the  @TheScienceofLeadership  podcast as he delves into the transformative power of "on-purpose leadership" with Kevin McCarthy.

This enlightening episode unravels the concept of "on-purpose" leadership, contrasting it with popular notions of being "purpose-driven." Kevin McCarthy...

In this episode of  @TheScienceofLeadership , host Tom Collins is joined by U.S. Navy Admiral (ret.) Scott Swift, who shares his expertise on the pivotal role of calculated risk in leadership, drawing from his vast naval experience, including serving as the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

With a career handling high-stakes situations, Admiral Swift discusses the significance of embracing uncertainty as a resource, which is cru...