“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”
– James Humes
The posts in this category will help you improve your communications skills, whether it’s making a presentation, listening to a teammate, or building a powerful network. If you want to get connected with others, this is a good place to start.
Last week we talked about the importance of seeking to understand your leadership environment before you start trying to lead. And if you were taking good notes and paying attention to the people you talked with, you should have a pretty good idea of the direction you want to take your team. …
How to Communicate the Vision: Striking the Right Chord Read More »
It was the best PowerPoint presentation I had ever seen. It happened over 10 years ago, but even now I can remember specifics. What made it so memorable? So effective? In this post, I’ll tell you the simple presentation secret, and how you can use it to add power to …
The Simple Secret to the Best PowerPoint Presentation I Ever Saw Read More »
There are two parts to a presentation: your message, and how you transmit that message to your audience. Too often a good message can get lost in the static of a bad transmission. Not long ago I was on the receiving end of this unfortunate combination. To help us all …
From Disaster to Master: Five Presentation Tips to Cut Through the Static Read More »
Can the way you stand or sit make you a better leader? Short answer: Yes, I believe it can. There are two main ways that this happens, and we’ll be talking about how you can put them both to work to enhance your ability to lead.
Wondering what it is you did to infuriate the boss? The boss just always seems to be mad at you. You’re trying to lead your team the best you can, but every time you turn around he’s in your face about something. You might be thinking, “What’s his problem?” But …
9 Things You are Doing that Really Infuriate the Boss Read More »
We’ll never be free from the need to have meetings, but that doesn’t mean they have to be long, boring, and unproductive. Here are ten unusual meeting approaches you can use to get out of a rut, stimulate more creativity, and be more productive.
“How do I ask for feedback from the boss?” A reader posed a great question recently in the feedback section of one of my leadership courses. “I and others like me in our organization rarely hear a few encouraging words or feedback of any type. How does one approach one’s supervisor about …
How to Ask For Feedback: 16 Ways to Get the Input You Need Read More »
It is not unusual for someone to be promoted into a position of leadership based on their job performance. But often, the skills that got them promoted are not the ones that will help them excel as a leader. You are bridging the gap from doing what you are told, …
5 Connections You Need for a Powerful Leadership Network Read More »
No one likes to deliver bad news to the boss. But how you present a problem to them will have a lot to do with how they react to it. It’s more than just “managing the boss” – it’s seeing things from their perspective. Here is a way you can …
In a recent online poll, about 1,000 U.S. workers were asked what their biggest complaints were about their leaders. Today we’ll talk about the top nine of these complaints, how they are connected, and what you can do to avoid being one of the leaders they are complaining about.
After every major event, good organizations and teams take a moment and very deliberately review what happened in an After Action Review. In this way, they can keep getting better. It’s a great process, but there’s an elephant in the room that can keep it from working. Today we’re going …
After Action Reviews: Is There an Elephant in the Room? Read More »
You know, one of the first counseling sessions I received as a leader was also one of the toughest. I learned that I was falling short of my commander’s expectations in several ways, and it was hurting the team. When it was over, I ended up thanking my commander and …