The Leap Year Listicle!

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In my work with leaders and teams we spend a lot of time on a few essential things. As a special Leap Day treat I’m sharing 5 of my top leadership skills with you, including how you can jump in and start practicing. 

Lists like these only come out every four years so seize the day! And by the way, these skills make us better humans. So whether you’re running an organization, a team or your sweet self, they’ll make your life a little better. I promise.

Give them a try and let me know how it goes.

1. Ask Powerful Questions

   This is THE most essential skill for building connection, understanding others’ points of view and better problems solving.

   Now What? Practice asking powerful what/how questions like: What’s your understanding? What info do we still need? What are the facts? How do you see us moving forward?

2. Listen (Truly)

   TRULY listening is NOT:

   • Thinking about what you’ll say next

   • Interrupting, talking over

   • Turning the focus back onto you

   • Advice giving, problem solving, rescuing

   Now What? Notice when you’re NOT truly listening and bring your attention back to the other person.

3. Say What You See

   In any relationship, we’re not served by stepping over things, making assumptions or judgments. Work and life go better when we’re transparent.

   Now What? Practice saying what you see then asking a powerful question: I’m concerned about X. How do you see it? You seem upset. What’s up? I prefer Y. What’s your preference?

4. Turn Complaints Into Action

   Complaints go nowhere fast. And yet, they’re an opportunity to make things better if we reframe them. 

   Now What? When you have or hear a complaint, ask yourself or others: What do I/you need to make this better?  If it worked, what would that look like?

5. Do Donuts

   The official name for these are Skip Level Meetings, where leaders connect with people throughout the organization to build connection and get a pulse. They are MAGIC.

   Now What? Schedule at least one/month with people who don’t report directly to you. Listen more than you talk. Ask things like:

   • What problem do we need to solve?

   • What should we start doing? Stop doing?