In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins is joined by retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Mario Fields, a combat veteran, speaker, and founder of Still Serving, Inc. They explore the core leadership force of empowerment, defining it as setting conditions for success for those you lead.
 
Sergeant Major Fields emphasizes that empowerment must start with trusting yourself first to acknowledge and mitigate personal biases, and then extending that trust to others. They frame empowerment as trust in action , arguing that true leadership is about creating capability in others, which includes granting the freedom—and opportunity—to fail and learn from mistakes.
 
The conversation dives into what hinders empowerment:

Micromanagement: Often stems from a leader's failure to hire, train, or clarify expectations effectively.
The Problem at the Top: Sergeant Major Fields asserts that poor unit or company performance rarely starts with junior folks; the problems begin with the leadership. Leaders must be amenable to feedback to fix their behaviors.

Key Scientific Takeaways:


Empowerment multiplies leadership and avoids decision bottlenecks.


The data supports that empowering behaviors (sharing power, encouraging autonomy) predict higher job satisfaction, creativity, and performance.


Leaders must understand that 93% of communication is nonverbal and tone , which either validates the stated words or disempowers the team.
 


Practical Tip: Mario recommends leaders and their teams use the Dr. Holland RIASEC codes to understand personality wiring, ensuring people are put in roles that enhance their natural abilities. The episode closes with the wisdom that successful leaders all figure out how to identify and empower talent.
 
For more leadership lessons from Sergeant Major (Ret.) Mario P. Fields, check out The Unarmored Talk Podcast or go to https://www.stillservinginc.com/

Also, I want to remind listeners about the release of my book, "The Four Stars of Leadership," a culmination of over three years of dedicated work, and I'm confident it will be an immensely interesting and helpful guide on your journey to becoming a better leader. Don't miss out on this essential resource—order your copy today at Amazon or Barnes & Nobles and share your thoughts with me!

Sharpen your leadership skills: Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app to ensure you don't miss an episode dedicated to helping you become a better leader.
To learn more about the Science of Leadership, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/
 
References

Ahearne, M., Mathieu, J., & Rapp, A. (2005). To empower or not to empower your sales force? Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(5), 945–955.
Zhang, X., & Bartol, K. M. (2010). Linking empowering leadership and employee creativity: The influence of psychological empowerment, intrinsic motivation, and creative process engagement. Academy of Management Journal, 53(1), 107–128.
Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.

Holland Code (RIASEC)
https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/RIASEC/
 

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