“There’s no failure, only feedback.”

One of the things EQ Strategist incorporate into our customised, in house, longer form leadership programs is Q&A sessions with highly respected leaders from within the organisation. These segments are often a highlight for our participants, who learn how the leaders stand out and perform at exceptional levels in the same conditions they face. When they hear about their back stories, they’re often also inspired by how “human” these leaders are and are moved by their authenticity.

Here are some of the key distinctions I gleaned learning from some of the distinguished leaders who featured in our longer form leadership programs over the past few months.

  1. Learning to speak out for what’s right and doing it assertively and yet respectfully is a trait of leaders, with or without positional authority.
  2. The vibes you foster in your team matters. When people think about work and feel positive about getting to work, it leads to positive outcomes
  3. It’s not what you do or achieve that matters, it’s the impact you’ve created on those you lead.
  4. Leadership is about having your people’s backs whenever it’s tempting to throw them under the bus.
  5. Everyone faces some form of prejudice at work. Some more than others obviously. Yet, earn respect by demonstrating your worth – at the right time.
  6. Speaking up when it’s the right thing to do can be a matter of life and death. It is also a habit. Learn to be comfortable being vulnerable expressing yourself by practicing this whenever the opportunity arises.