The Look & Sound of Leadership

Five steps for making a difficult conversation as good as it can be.

People who can talk off the top of their head and sound well-spoken are rare. Here are quick techniques to will help you sound crisp and articulate.

There are many ways to be less than impeccable with your word. One can be in what you say to or about others, Another is in what you say to yourself about you.

When people ask what behavior is most crucial to conveying executive presence, I answer without hesitation: "Speed of thought."

Day to day frustrations often derail us so we end up acting in a way that is not in our own best interest. Here's an idea to help you stay on track.

Most people hear the word "feedback" and flinch in fear. Here is a model that is easy to take -- and easy to do!

Succinct summaries in response to open-ended questions make you sound like a razor-sharp executive.

FDR's first Fireside Chat changed the course of the banking crisis by using six specific techniques. Learn those techniques here.

Variety keeps us listening to each other. If you can't be expressive, you won't display variety. Here's how to develop this crucial skill.

An exploration of how to keep your listeners' eyes and ears engaged during your presentations.

Short sounds confident. But most of us can't stop talking. And talking. And talking. So our listeners perceive us as unprepared for leadership. Master this skill. This is The Sound of Leadership!

Feedback is often contradictory. And it feels personal. In the face of all that, it's easy to sound defensive. But people who act defensively seem unready for leadership. Avoid the trap.

Repeated Headlines is an invaluable tool when you need to address ongoing behavior from a direct report, co-worker or boss -- or even a spouse or a child!

There's always someone with more authority, more education, more experience, more money, more something. It's hard to keep your footing when you feel the field is tilted against you. What's the trick? Assume equality!

For most of us, the intention we want to convey to others is vague and intuitive. But leaders who clarify their intention and put it in the front of their mind become blazing beacons in their organizations. Larry Webb is real-life example.