Leaders often feel pressure to be the rock in the organization, always appearing to be in control, unphased, and steady. Even if we’re not feeling it, the need to act like everything’s OK and instill confidence in our teams usually wins out over vulnerability. And while I don’t disagree entirely with that approach, I believe it robs us of one of the most essential and fulfilling aspects of effective leadership – meaningful relationships.

You may be familiar with the analogy about good conversations and mini-skirts; both should be short enough to grab attention but long enough to cover the subject. That’s an easy way to remember one of the golden rules of good conversations; be brief but thorough. The rest of the guidelines might be a little more difficult to visualize and recall. Still, they’re just as vital if you want to have better overall communication which is imperative to good leadership and healthy relationships. Here are a few of the best conversation practices I’ve found.

As a general rule, employees hate meetings because a meeting where everything is relevant to everyone, and all parties are energized and engaged, is almost non-existent. So, what could I do, and how can we as leaders make it better? Here are some ideas.

“Successful people are confident in what they believe and the ways they go about reaching their potential. But they are also equally aware that one size does not fit all. They are as committed to their goals as they are to constantly reevaluating their methods…”

“No” is a necessary response – to give and to accept – in a lot of leadership, life, and business situations. But sometimes, it should be out of the question. But how do you know? I believe that largely depends on one thing – passion.

I’m not known for my patience, and my wife would attest that this is an extreme understatement. Sometimes my impatience can lead me down some dangerous paths. Here’s an example of one of my riskiest (and potentially most foolish) business moves that happened because I was tired of waiting.

They say the devil is in the details, and I can’t disagree with that statement. A new to-do list filled with worthy projects always invigorates me – for a little while. But then, the responsibility required to make it all happen kind of kills the vibe, doesn’t it?

Did you ever see the viral videos of that guy that sets up a table on a busy street and invites lively debate by putting up a sign with a provocative statement that ends with “Change My Mind”? Well, here’s mine;
LinkedIn needs a “laugh” emoji.

what are you looking at? Ever heard the quote, “We are born with our eyes shut and our mouth open – a flaw of nature that most of us never overcome”? I don’t know about you, but I find it all too relatable in my own life. Why is it so hard to see something…

If you own or run a business or have any type of leadership role, you’ve probably learned a thing or two about scrambling to save yourself from unexpected, potentially painful situations. And if you’re going to play the game, you better be light on your feet, keenly aware of your surroundings, and ready to move because someone on the other side will always be looking to fire a kill shot – or throw a wrench.