The Science of Leadership

Unleashing Influence: The Power of Asking the Right Questions with Dr. Lori Armstrong | Ep. 6 | The Science of Leadership

In this engaging episode of @TheScienceofLeadership, host Tom Collins delves into the critical theme of communication in leadership with expert guest Doctor Lori Armstrong. They discuss the power of asking the right questions to enhance communication, build trust, and improve leadership. Drawing from her healthcare executive experience, Dr. Armstrong shares insights and practical advice for leaders, highlighting the role of curiosity, active listening, and fostering a culture of openness. Their conversation blends real-life examples with scientific insights, showing how thoughtful questioning leads to stronger relationships and better organizational outcomes—a must-listen for anyone aiming to improve their communication skills in leadership.

Dr. Armstrong holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Drexel University and has led at top institutions like Kaiser Permanente and Stanford. Now CEO and Chief Clinical Officer of Inspire Nurse Leaders, she helps equip nurse leaders for success. She serves on national boards and has received honors like the Silicon Valley Woman of Distinction award.

Key concepts in this episode include communication, leadership, asking the right question, clarity, understanding, care, trust, relationships, growth, critical thinking, problem-solving, clarification, engagement, participation, competence, autonomy, relatedness, relationships, innovation, curiosity, reflective questions, neutrality, timing, solution-oriented questions

 

Takeaways

• Asking the right question leads to clarity of understanding and accurate message delivery.
• Asking the right question shows that the conversation is important and that the leader cares.
• Asking the right question can have a profound impact on individuals and their lives.
• Asking the right question builds trust, strengthens relationships, and creates opportunities for growth. Asking the right questions enhances critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Asking questions facilitates understanding and clarification, encouraging engagement and participation.
• Asking questions in a curious and interested manner increases competence, autonomy, and relatedness among team members, fostering stronger relationships and innovation.
• To become better at asking the right questions, tailor questions to the person and context, be clear and specific, ask open-ended questions, be curious and not judgmental, use reflective questions, ask for clarification when needed, stay neutral, time the question appropriately, ask 'what else?', and ask solution-oriented questions.

 

Key References:

Enhances Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

• Tofel-Grehl, C., & Feldon, D. F. (2013). Cognitive task analysis-based training: A meta-analysis of studies. Journal of Educational Psychology, 105(3), 763–775. DOI: 10.1037/a0033455.
• Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). The Miniature Guide to Socratic Questioning. Foundation for Critical Thinking.

Facilitates Understanding and Clarification

• Janssen, O. (2005). The role of frustration in communication: A theoretical framework. Academy of Management Review, 30(4), 723–739.
• Brownell, J. (2012). Listening: Attitudes, Principles, and Skills (5th ed.). Pearson Education.

Encourages Engagement and Participation

• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Plenum Press.
• Koestner, R., Ryan, R. M., Bernieri, F., & Holt, K. (1984). Setting limits on children's behavior: The differential effects of controlling vs. informational styles on intrinsic motivation and creativity. Journal of Personality, 52(3), 233–248.
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78.

Builds Stronger Relationships

• Reis, H. T., & Shaver, P. (1988). Intimacy as an interpersonal process. In S. Duck (Ed.), Handbook of Personal Relationships: Theory, Research, and Interventions (pp. 367–389). Wiley.

Fosters Innovation

• Edmondson, A. C. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.

 

Leadership Defined: Insights from the Army & Medicine with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling | Ep. 1 | The Science of Leadership

In this enlightening episode of @TheScienceofLeadership, Dr. Tom Collins speaks with Lieutenant General Mark Hertling about applying military leadership principles in healthcare. General Hertling shares insights from his military career and experience in physician leadership development, highlighting self-assessment, communication, and influence. He discusses understanding team members’ motivations, aligning presence with leadership roles, and building cohesive teams in high-stakes environments. Through real-world examples, this episode offers practical guidance for enhancing leadership skills across fields.

Lieutenant General Hertling is a West Point graduate, former Commander of U.S. Army Europe, and a combat veteran of three wars. He is highly decorated, with honors including four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. After retiring, he earned a doctorate in business administration and transitioned to healthcare leadership, culminating in his book Growing Physician Leaders: Empowering Doctors to Improve Our Healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• Continuous Self-Assessment: Leaders must regularly evaluate their character, presence, and intellect to maintain alignment with their values and roles.
• Influence Techniques: Effective leadership hinges on the ability to influence and understand the motivations of team members, rather than exerting external motivation.
• Communication is Key: Both what leaders say and how they are perceived are crucial. Emotional intelligence and impactful communication strategies are essential for effective leadership.
• Building Teams: Successful teams are forged through understanding individual member's strengths, motivations, and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Serendipity and Success: The confluence of preparation, being in the right position, and seizing opportunities often defines a leader’s journey and their impact.

 

Resources:

General Mark Hertling's Book: Growing Physician Leaders | https://a.co/d/i7M9bg6

General Mark Hertling’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hertling-dba-57987066/

Women in Medicine Initiative: http://womeninmedicine.org/

Dr. Tom Collins' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcollinsmd/

The Secret to Leadership Success: Caring About People | Ep. 5 | The Science of Leadership

In this conversation on @TheScienceofLeadership, Dr. Tom Collins and Dr. Justin Hamrick, Dr. Collins discuss the importance of caring in leadership. They define caring as both meeting needs (caring for) and forming emotional connections (caring about). Tom shares a story of a teacher who cared about him, illustrating how caring fosters trust. They address the misconception that caring isn’t essential in leadership, explaining its benefits: higher engagement, productivity, and morale, along with reduced turnover. Leaders show care by listening actively, getting to know team members personally, and making them feel valued and supported.

Key concepts covered in this episode include leadership, caring, trust, needs, emotional connection, well-being, effective leadership, meeting needs, support, personal connection, engagement, productivity, collaboration, morale, and turnover.

Takeaways

• Caring in leadership involves both caring for someone (providing for their needs) and caring about someone (emotional connection and interest in their well-being).
• Exceptional leadership requires both forms of caring.
• Caring builds trust, and trust is essential for effective leadership.
• Not caring about the people we lead can lead to attrition and a lack of trust.
• Practical ways to demonstrate care as a leader include asking about personal concerns, showing interest in their well-being, and investing time and effort in understanding and supporting them. Caring for and caring about team members are both essential aspects of effective leadership.
• Caring for others involves meeting their needs and supporting them in their work.
• Caring about others means getting to know them on a personal level and understanding their experiences and hardships.
• Genuine care from leaders leads to increased engagement, productivity, collaboration, morale, and reduced turnover.

Key References

• Goleman, D., "Leadership That Gets Results," Harvard Business Review, 2000
• Nguyen, M. T. & Trepanier, S., "The Impact of Leadership on Employee Retention," Human Resources Quarterly, 2020
• Reilly, K. K., Zhou, S., & Wong, L. "Leadership and Workplace Engagement," Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2021
• Gallup, "State of the American Workplace," Gallup Research, 2017
• De Vries, R., Bakker-Pieper, A., & Oostenveld, W. "Leadership, Communication, and Team Collaboration," Journal of Applied Psychology, 2016
• Society for Human Resource Management, "The Influence of Empathetic Leadership on Workplace Morale," 2022
• Seppala, E., "The Power of Compassionate Leadership," Yale School of Management, 2018