The Strategy Skills Podcast: Management Consulting | Strategy, Operations & Implementation | Critical Thinking

L. David Marquet, former nuclear submarine commander and author of Leadership Is Language, shares a precise, operational approach to leadership, one that replaces command-and-control with a language designed for clarity, ownership, and adaptability. Drawing on his experience turning the USS Santa Fe from one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet to one of the best, David shows how seemingly small shifts in language can radically improve decision-making, learning speed, and execution.   David rejects the traditional leader–follower model in favor of a leader–leader framework, where decision rights are pushed “to the people closest to the information.” He explains how questions, statements, and the timing of communication directly shape whether teams think critically or default to compliance.   “What we say and when we say it changes what people do. Language is a leadership technology.”   Key Takeaways: Replace Permission with Intent Moving from “Can I…?” to “I intend to…” changes accountability and