Leadership Presence
When we think of good leadership qualities, our mind often goes to characteristics such as wisdom, communication skills, and charisma. Technical abilities, aptitude, and competence will make the list, too. Since leaders lead, we look for results — what have they accomplished? There are also the intangible sides of leadership, which are easier to sense […]
Learning to See People
When it comes other people, there is what we see and what could see. Too often, we make judgments or decisions based only on what we see … a rowdy child, an unkempt stranger, a rude person in the checkout line, a socially awkward person. Because our brains are inherently lazy and prefer to take […]
Good Leaders Know How to Close the Gap
Having been in senior leadership positions for nearly 30 years, here is one thing I’ve found to be true: leaders often overestimate their ability to communicate and underestimate the hurdles to good communication. In between lies the gap. The bigger the gap, the longer it will take to execute. The bigger the gap, the bigger […]
Employees are Hired, Followers are Earned
What is the difference between being a boss and being a leader? It’s not your title, rank, position on the org chart, or the location of your office. Any of these might describe a boss or leader. It’s also not just a matter of semantics, a play on words. In both cases, they are surrounded […]
Who You Are and How You Appear
While we live in a world of splinters and contradictions, we are hard-wired for connections. Literally. Our brains are designed to make connections, find patterns, and are troubled by dissonance. This is why understanding the power of nonverbal communication is vital. Our words say, “I’m happy” but our face tells a different story. I tell […]