“Leadership should mean giving control rather than taking control and creating leaders rather than forging followers.”

Why it was said

L. David Marquet draws this conclusion in Turn the Ship Around! (2012) from his command of the nuclear submarine USS Santa Fe, which he took over in 1999 when it was among the worst performers in the fleet.

What it actually means

Marquet had prepared to command a different submarine and found that on the Santa Fe he did not know the boat well enough to give every order. That forced a different approach: instead of asking permission, officers stated what they intended to do, and he confirmed or questioned it. Over time, decisions moved to the people with the most information. The line names his shift from the familiar leader-follower model to what he calls leader-leader. It does not mean giving up responsibility. Marquet pairs it with two conditions, technical competence and organisational clarity, because handing control to people who lack either produces confusion rather than initiative.

How to use it

1. 1This week, when a team member asks for permission, ask them instead to say what they intend to do and why.
2. 2Pick one decision you usually make yourself and hand it to the person closest to the information, with clear goals and limits.