The Look & Sound of Leadership

This is a variation on the old phrase, "garbage in/garbage out." By consciously shaping the questions you ask, you can affect the information you get. And the information you get is critical to your success as a leader.

We think we're paid to make decisions and give directions. But all too often we default to problem-solving when listening would get us better results. Here are two behaviors that sound easier than they are.

Validated, standardized assessments are part of every leadership development program for a good reason: without objective reflection none of us can grow beyond our current capabilities.

A proven way to build rapport is matching: a conscious flexing of your style to match a person's style who is different from yours.

Being "passionate" is often experienced by others as all-or-nothing, right-or-wrong. This podcast explores a tool called, "Talk to be Heard," which allows you to be persuasive without hammering people.

Certain phrases "click" with our listeners. Here are three that make a big difference in keeping people's attention and in stopping endless debates and diversions.

Just because you worked hard to develop new behaviors, don't assume your changes are blazingly obvious to no one else. Odds are, they're not!

Often a decline in performance is a long-delayed reaction to troubling events that would seem to be over. Because of the gap between the event and the decline, people often scratch their heads and wonder what's wrong.

Self-esteem governs how we hear feedback, how we give it and how we manage our relationships with others. This complex issue touches almost every part of how we're perceived in the workplace.

Apologies can enhance or damage a relationship. Too few can be as damaging as too many. Here are four apologies – two to emulate, two to avoid.

Emotions are contagious. When confronted with defensive behaviors, it's important not to get infected. And to have tools to help you manage yourself and the situation.

When we repeat patterns of behavior that clearly do not fit the situation, it’s a good bet a stand-in from our past is at play.

Meetings are a terrific opportunity to display The Look & Sound of Leadership. Here are eight specific behaviors to be sure you're making the impression you want during meetings.

Rehearsing improves performance. There's simply too much evidence to deny that fact. Here are three rules for rehearsing efficiently.

When things go wrong, it's hard to give up being "right" and focus on making things better. But that's the only way to really repair a damaged relationship.