Here’s what we’re thinking about
Five Habits for Senior Executives
Years ago I coached a new manager who was frustrated by the amount of time he spent in meetings. “I don’t have any time to do my real work!” he said. I walked him through an exercise. On the bottom half of a whiteboard, we brainstormed all his previous individual contributor work, the things he […]
Leading a Sustainable Company
More and more, companies are finding ways to improve their social and environmental impact while increasing their business performance. Today, 90% of managers believe a sustainability strategy is “essential to remaining competitive,” and there is now a robust business case for sustainability. In one meta-analysis of over 200 sources, 88% of research reviewed shows a […]
Manage Stress and Boost Your Well-Being
The idea that well-being is a crucial underpinning of good leadership has gained a great deal of attention in recent years. And it makes sense: physical health and positive emotions go a long way towards helping leaders be their best. In 2017 Sierra Leadership reviewed the stress management literature, and we came across a real […]
Sleep On It: Improving Your Bottom Line Through Better Sleep
Nearly half of executives struggle with sleep deficiency, according to research published in the Harvard Business Review.
Speaking with Authenticity: Transcend Your Script
Many speakers I’ve worked with struggle to be authentic because they are working from a word-for-word script. They are giving a big keynote address, the stakes are high, and they don’t want to miss anything. They may even have a comms team helping them create the presentation. In the end, they have a polished script, […]
Speaking with Authenticity: Use Techniques Without Losing Yourself
Authenticity is a powerful foundation for a successful presentation. But to be your best as a speaker you have to get it right on the inside and on the outside. On the inside, you have to know what’s true for you, why you are passionate about your topic, what you really think, feel, believe and […]
Speaking with Authenticity: Know Your Audience, Tell Your Story
If understanding what you are passionate about is one foundation of a highly authentic presentation, then understanding your audience is another.
Speaking with Authenticity: First, Connect with What’s Most Important to You
Early in my consulting career I led a communication workshop at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The topic was “speaking with authenticity.” I was extremely nervous.
Executive Presence and Your Voice
In the drug development process, there is sometimes a crucial moment when a team of pharmaceutical executives is asked to present and answer questions in Washington, D.C. before a panel of experts and the FDA in an open public meeting. Hundreds of millions—sometimes billions—of dollars, years of work and the entire future of the company […]