Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
Tactical performers operate in high-skill, high-stakes environments — and yet many experience a persistent gap between intent and action. They know what to do. They have the capability to do it. And still, something gets in the way.
This phenomenon — which I call performance paralysis — is not simply a motivation problem. It reflects a complex interaction of physiological, psychological, and sociological/environmental barriers that can degrade readiness, elevate injury risk, and contribute to burnout and preventable attrition.
My current dissertation research is designed to describe and map these barriers, beginning with U.S. military populations — the people who arguably face these pressures most acutely.
What I’m studying:
U.S. military veterans’ perceived barriers to translating intent and capability into sustained, goal-directed behavior relevant to readiness and performance.
Who the participants are:
U.S. military veterans — separated or retired, any branch, any length of service.
How the study works:
An anonymous online survey with open-ended prompts capturing barriers across three domains: physiological, psychological, and sociological/environmental. Data are analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Where the research is headed:
Findings are designed to inform barrier-targeted support within military human performance frameworks — with downstream relevance to readiness, well-being, and retention. The goal is not just academic: this research is the foundation for practical frameworks that high performers in any demanding environment can use.
Current status:
Active doctoral dissertation — Walden University, PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Presented at TOP CON 2026, Savannah, GA.
Michael W. Martin Jr. is a PhD candidate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Walden University and the founder of Socratic Warrior®, LLC. A retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer with 26+ years of service, he brings operational credibility, coaching experience across 5,000+ individuals, and a career-long focus on why capable people fail to perform at their potential.
He is a 3x world champion and records holder in drug-free powerlifting, a published author, and a columnist whose writing on performance and health reaches a broad community of practitioners and readers.
Whether you’re a researcher, practitioner, military human performance professional, or someone who recognizes the intent-action gap in your own work — I’d be glad to hear from you.