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 personal proficiency.

Discover how these timeless principles, from knowing where you're going and making progress to nurturing your people and investing in the next generation, form the "DNA code" of leadership. Dr. Ulrich and Tom delve into the importance of a leader's aspiration in an uncertain world, and how fostering an environment where individuals feel better about themselves after an interaction is a crucial test of leadership.

They explore the concept of "leadership brand," emphasizing the critical link between internal leadership actions and external customer promises, highlighting that true value creation extends beyond just shareholder returns to encompass all stakeholders.

This episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone seeking to cultivate not just effective leadership, but a truly meaningful life.

Key References:

Carnegie, D. (1948). How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Simon & Schuster.

Carnegie, D. (1937). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Simon & Schuster.

Ulrich, D., & Smallwood, N. (2007). Leadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Drive Performance and Build Lasting Value. Harvard Business Review Press.

Ulrich, D., Smallwood, N., & Sweetman, K. (2008). The Leadership Code: Five Rules to Lead By. Harvard Business Press.

Ulrich, D., & Ulrich, W. (2010). The Why of Work. McGraw Hill.

To dive deeper into the science behind exceptional leadership and gain more valuable insights, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/ today!

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 leaders, and discusses how transparency and predictable processes build trust within organizations.

Throughout the episode, Amanda and Tom reveal key insights into the interaction between transparency and authenticity and its impact on organizational stability. They discuss effective strategies for fostering transparency, such as maintaining open dialogues, encouraging two-way communication, and leading with vulnerability.

Emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural dynamics in leadership, Amanda introduces practical methods for balancing transparency with discretion. Tom and Amanda also unpack the importance of transparency in both normal operations and high-pressure situations, discussing its scientific backing and its integral role in successful leadership models.

Key Takeaways:

🔸Transparency in leadership fosters trust, enhances decision-making, and contributes to team cohesion and organizational stability.

🔸Authenticity and transparency, although interconnected, are distinct concepts that support leaders in aligning personal values with their professional environment.

🔸Understanding cultural dynamics within an organization can guide leaders in maintaining the right balance between transparency and necessary discretion.

🔸Building relationships and knowing your team are crucial in determining when and how to be transparent.

🔸Promoting a transparent and open work environment can boost psychological safety, trust, and innovation among team members.

For more information about Amanda or Excelle, visit: https://www.excelle.me/

References:

Allender, D. B. (2008). Leading With a Limp. WaterBrook.

Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.

Edmondson, A. C. (2018). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. John Wiley & Sons.

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 sustaining effective leadership.

Dr. Phil Gehrman unpacks the science of sleep and its underestimated importance in cognitive function, emotional regulation, and leadership skills. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Gehrman challenges the misconception that sleep is a passive state, emphasizing instead that it is a highly active process crucial for mental health and performance.

The episode highlights topics such as the ideal amount of sleep, the distinction between sleep quantity and quality, and the vital importance of rest periods for leaders. By leveraging groundbreaking studies and personal experiences, listeners gain valuable insights into the practical steps necessary for maximizing sleep quality.

Key Takeaways:

🔸Active Sleep Process: Sleep is an active, restorative process, not a passive one — essential for cognitive recovery and long-term memory consolidation.

🔸Individual Sleep Needs: The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep, but individual needs may vary; quality of sleep is as crucial as quantity.

🔸Impact on Leadership: Insufficient sleep adversely affects executive functions crucial for leadership, like decision-making and impulse control.

🔸Importance of Consistency: Routine sleep schedules, coupled with intentional rest periods during the day, significantly enhance sleep quality and leadership efficacy.

🔸Sleep Deprivation Study: Lack of sleep contributes to impaired performance over time and hinders an individual's ability to assess their own cognitive degeneration.

Key References:

Bian, W., Biswas, R. K., Ahmadi, M. N., et al. (2025). Dose-response associations of device-measured sleep regularity and duration with incident dementia in 82391 UK adults. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 516.

Carney, C. E., Manber, R., & Bootzin, R. (2009). Quiet your mind and get to sleep: Solutions to insomnia for those with depression, anxiety, or chronic pain. New Harbinger.

Gottesman, R. F., Lutsey, P. L., Benveniste, H., et al. (2024). Impact of sleep disorders and disturbed sleep on brain health: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Stroke, 55(3), e61-e76.

Howard, C., Mukadam, N., Hui, E. K., & Livingston, G. (2024). The effects of sleep duration on the risk of dementia incidence in short and long follow-up studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine, 124, 522-530.

Mayer, G., Frohnhofen, H., Jokisch, M., Hermann, D. M., & Gronewold, J. (2024). Associations of sleep disorders with all-cause McI/dementia and different types of dementia: Clinical evidence, potential pathomechanisms, and treatment options: A narrative review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, 1372326.

Olsen, O. K., Pallesen, S., Torsheim, T. & Espevik, R. (2016). The effect of sleep deprivation on leadership behaviour in military officers: an experimental study. Journal of Sleep Research, 25(6), 683–689.

Palpatzis, E., Bass, N., Jones, R., & Mukadam, N. (2022). Longitudinal association of apolipoprotein E and sleep with incident dementia. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 18(5), 888-898.

Sen, A., & Tai, X. Y. (2023). Sleep duration and executive function in adults. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 23(11), 801-813.