Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don’t Author: L. David Marquet

Leadership Is Language by L. David Marquet challenges traditional leadership models by focusing on one transformative tool: language. As a former U.S. Navy submarine commander and the bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around!, Marquet draws on years of experience to reveal how small shifts in what leaders say—or don’t say—can lead to big changes in how teams think, act, and succeed.

Instead of commanding and controlling, Marquet champions a model where leaders communicate to collaborate, question assumptions, and create psychological safety. The book contrasts two types of language:

Old-school “playbook” language: rigid, binary, driven by orders and compliance

New “empowerment” language: adaptive, curious, open-ended, driven by autonomy and learning

Through vivid case studies and actionable frameworks, readers learn how to:

Ask better questions that spark engagement and insight

Replace passive commands with empowering dialogue

Create environments where team members speak up and take ownership

Avoid decision traps that come from outdated language habits

With its compelling message and pragmatic tools, Leadership Is Language is essential reading for executives, team leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs alike. It’s not just a communication book—it’s a manual for cultivating a new style of leadership grounded in humanity, clarity, and connection.