Internationally known executive coach, keynote speaker and leadership educator
It takes a strong person to speak truth to power. And so leaders need to surround themselves with strong people, unafraid to tell the boss – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Leaders need to make it safe for those who give feedback. They should invite push-back, to welcome people who disagree, and, in fact, to reward them for doing so.
A leader who invites dissent is one who is secure within his or her own self to be the person others embrace as their leader.
Does a leader need an enemy to succeed?
Leaders run risks when they act on the negative. Negativity may win an election but it does not lead to good governance. A leader must stand for something, not simply against something else. Having an enemy can help when gaining attention for a cause, but using that enemy and hatred of it, as a foundation for leadership is a risky proposition. Leaders need to focus more on what they stand for.
Letting people know what you can do is far better than letting people know whom you dislike.
First posted on Smart Brief on 3/13/2015