
346. What We Reinforce, We Repeat: The Science of Better Leadership with Dr. Scott Geller
If you say you care about your people, could they point to what you did this week that made them feel cared for? That question sets the tone for a practical, sometimes uncomfortable, and ultimately hopeful conversation with Dr. Scott Geller , a Virginia Tech behavioral scientist, author of 57 books, and founder of the Actively Caring for People movement. We talk about gratitude as a behavior, not a vibe. Dr. Geller shares research on how rarely people even wave “thank you” in everyday moments, then we translate that into leadership: the micro interactions that lift someone’s day, reduce friction, and build trust. We also dig into reframing, shifting from “I have to” to “I get to,” and moving from failure avoidance toward success seeking, a mindset that aligns closely with positive psychology and human wellbeing. From there, we get concrete about feedback. We break down supportive feedback that actually helps because it is specific, and corrective feedback that works because it stays human, curious, and empathetic. We explore “humanistic behaviorism,” why people are condition-sensitive and probabilistic, and what leaders can truly control: the environment, the prompts, the consequences, and the quality of conversation. We also face the cost of a disconnected world: asynchronous messages that lose tone, emotional intelligence that goes unused, and community that erodes when we stop looking up. You’ll leave with simple prompts you can use today, plus Dr. Geller’s STEPS practice for noticing good behavior and passing it on. Subscribe, share this with someone you appreciate, and leave a review so more leaders move from knowing to doing. 🌐 Connect with Dr. Scott : • Website: https://activelycaringforpeople.org/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/actively-caring-for-people-foundation/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activelycaringforpeople/ 📚 You can purchase Dr. Scott's books on Amazon: • Actively Caring for Safety: The Psychological Science of Injury Prevention: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1032572612/ • The Human Dynamics of Achieving an Injury-Free Workplace: Safety Directives from Psychological Science: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHRRNM7D/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show ✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week! 📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below. 🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers 📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too. If you're thinking about starting a podcast or upgrading your hosting, Buzzsprout is a great option! This link will give both of us a $20 credit when you upgrade: 👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1701891 Create forms easily with Jotform! Sign up with my link: https://www.jotform.com/?referral=AkWimLxOBz Get extra Dropbox space—sign up with my link: Dropbox Referral Link Wise Referral link: https://wise.com/invite/dic/michaels11434 Strea...











