In today’s fast-paced world, leaders struggle to juggle endless demands while inspiring their teams. This episode dives into the three dimensions of power—power over, power with, and personal power—helping you become a more mindful and purpose-driven leader. Whether you’re seeking to build stronger teamwork, co-create with your team, or tap into your intuition, this episode equips you with actionable strategies to stay ahead.

Here’s what you’ll gain from listening:

• A clear framework for understanding and applying the three dimensions of power in your leadership.
• Techniques to frame problems creatively and unlock your team’s collective genius.
• Strategies to master your mind and emotions, enabling you to lead authentically and foster trust.

Don’t miss this episode—press play now to uncover the secrets to leading with clarity, connection, and creativity and become the leader your team deserves.

Unlocking Self-Mastery and Personal Power to Foster More Teamwork

[00:32] – Meet Lisa Danel

In this episode, we’re joined by Lisa Danels, founder and executive director of Human Edge and author of The Human Edge Advantage: Mastering the Art of Being All In. Lisa shares her expertise in unlocking leadership potential, fostering more teamwork, and creating authentic connections in the workplace.

[02:12] – Early Leadership Lessons

Lisa reflects on her childhood and how self-awareness and emotional clarity helped her develop her leadership skills. She emphasizes how mastering yourself can lead to stronger teamwork and better decision-making.

[05:30] – The End of Command-and-Control Leadership

Lisa explains why traditional “command and control” leadership doesn’t work in today’s fast-paced, collaborative workplaces. Discover how shifting to “power with” can inspire teamwork and innovation.

[13:08] – The Power of Asking Better Questions

Learn how clarifying, empowering, and igniting questions can help leaders unlock their team’s creativity and encourage more teamwork. Lisa also shares the pitfalls of close-ended questions that limit progress.

[18:39] – The Three Types of Power

Lisa dives into “power over,” “power with,” and “personal power,” highlighting how personal mastery enhances your ability to lead collaboratively and build more teamwork across your team.

Co-Creation and Framing for Innovation

[33:11] – Framing Problems for Collective Genius

Lisa outlines how leaders can frame problems in a way that unlocks collective creativity. She shares strategies for fostering more teamwork by encouraging every team member to contribute their unique ideas.

[35:54] – Bringing a Brick, Not a Cathedral

Lisa introduces the concept of co-creation through “bringing a brick, not a cathedral,” where leaders provide the framework and allow their teams to build solutions together, leading to stronger teamwork and more innovative results.

[37:29] – Walking Around the Problem

Lisa discusses how stepping back and viewing problems from multiple angles leads to systemic solutions. This approach promotes deeper collaboration and, ultimately, more teamwork within the team.

[39:22] – Improv and Leadership

Discover how the principles of improv—like being fully present and co-creating moment by moment—can strengthen teamwork and spark creative breakthroughs within your team.

[41:01] – Practical Steps for Self-Mastery and Team Connection

Lisa wraps up by emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and curiosity for leaders. These traits not only enhance your personal leadership but also inspire more teamwork and authentic connections in your organization.

The post Leadership Skills for More Teamwork and Better Problem Solving appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

At the start of our work together, we’ll ask leaders and managers around the world for their most valuable leadership practice. There are several answers that consistently rise to the top, including clarity, vision, encouragement, communication, listening, empathy, and support.

These are certainly valuable. And when we ask the tens of thousands of leaders and managers we’ve worked with about the most valuable practice they’ve learned through our work together, one of the most frequent answers is to “Check for Understanding.”

Check For Understanding: Ensure that everyone in a conversation is on the same page and has a shared understanding of what they discussed to save hours, days, and weeks of headache, heartache, and frustration. (For more on the valuable communication tool: look at Check for Understanding)

But What’s the MOST Valuable Leadership Practice?

I love the “check for understanding” and I do think it’s one of the highest ROI practices you can use…

But, if I had to choose one practice that adds the most value and leverages everything else you do as a leader, I would choose a word that lacks glamor. It’s not flashy or charismatic. But it will be the deciding factor in your long-term success.

What’s the most valuable leadership practice?

Consistency.

Showing up moment by moment, day after day, project after project with the same skills, character, and commitment.

Why Consistency?

I’m training for my first ultra-marathon of about 33 miles over hilly trails.

You can’t train for a race like this in a day or a week. It takes months of consistent training including running, strength work, and stretching for your body to adapt and grow to meet the new demands.

Me consistently wondering how I’m going to finish this 17-mile training run

Your team and organization are similar. Day-to-day consistency and accountability in a few practices will do far more good than multiple pronouncements and intentions.

Just like the body adapts to physical training, your team will adapt to practicing good communication when you practice it daily, bring one another back to focus when you forget, and celebrate success.

Then do it again the next day.

The same is true for any meaningful team behavior or leadership skill. Your team needs your encouragement consistently. To hold one another accountable every day. They need clarity of outcomes and priorities all the time.

Why Consistency is Rare and Valuable

You’re probably nodding and saying “Yes, yes, consistency – I get it.”

But consistency is valuable and multiplies every other leadership practice because it is so rare. It’s easy to encourage your team when you’re excited, results are fantastic, and everyone feels good.

It’s more challenging when you’re distracted, stressed, overwhelmed, or bored. Inconsistency undermines any good intention you share or initiative you begin. But showing up consistently builds trust.

That’s why we recommend developing a habit of using one leadership skill before adding the next.

(It’s also why meaningful leadership development programs combine spaced learning over time with action learning—where participants apply what they learn.)

The Most Valuable Leadership Practice – Your Turn

Consistency isn’t flashy. There’s no hack or trick to it. But showing up repeatedly, and doing what works, will build trust, strength in your team, positive habits, and success.

So yes, commit to checking for understanding, scheduling the finish, investing in development conversations…

And commit to the most valuable leadership practice: consistency in your chosen skills. It makes all the difference.

I’d love to hear from you: How do you maintain consistency in the practices that matter most for your success?

The post How to Leverage Your Skills with the Most Valuable Leadership Practice appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

If you want to improve your leadership competency and don’t know where to start, begin with these 6 fundamental concepts you can’t lead without.

These very practical leadership skills will serve you across contexts and work at every level of the business.

We’ve had everyone from CEOs to frontline supervisors tell us:

These strategic skills are all so simple and foundational. And you know what? They make a HUGE impact.

See Also: How to Be an Even Better Leader

Start Here to Improve Your Leadership Skills

1. Show up with confidence and humility.

2. Focus on results and relationships.

3. Mind the MIT (Most Important Thing).

4. Communicate consistently.

5. Check for understanding.

6. Schedule the finish.

Download our Leadership Training Brochure Here.

Related Articles on Foundational Leadership Skills:

6 Habits of Highly Successful Hybrid and Virtual Teams

How to Build Great Culture: Even if You’re Not CEO

More Leadership articles on Careers in Government

Do you (or your friend) have a leadership tough leadership question? Ask Karin here and you might be featured on the next edition of Asking For a Friend.

The post How Do I Improve My Leadership Skills? (Video) appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

But the truth is, leadership and sales have a lot in common: Inspiring a vision; building genuine relationships; finding creative solutions. Selling well is about caring and helping others achieve what they imagine. Leaders can benefit from honing some of their “sales” skills.

How I Became a Sales Leader

I’d been in HR for years when the Sales VP encouraged me to interview for a Sales Director gig. I was shocked. “Oh, I’ve never done sales…how could I lead a large sales team?” She just laughed, “Karin, you’re selling all the time. You’re constantly convincing us to take time out of the field to invest in leadership and HR programs. Trust me. That’s selling.”

She was right. And as it turns out, leading a team of several thousand salespeople was one of my favorite gigs.

Today I find the advice I gave to new salespeople useful in developing leaders as well.

7 Leadership Sales Skills

First, recognize that you already know how to sell. You’ve been selling from the very first time you convinced your parents to let you stay up past your bedtime. Think about all you’ve sold in your life, and use that to bolster your confidence.

If the thought of “selling ” your vision, your concept, or your idea still intimidates you, here are some selling 101 tips that can help.

1. Be confident in your “product” – If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, your “customer” won’t either. If you find yourself spinning the truth or speaking with strategic ambiguity consider your motives and your leadership. If you don’t buy it, they won’t (and shouldn’t).
2. Create a genuine connection – Relating on a human level and demonstrating that you truly care is much more important than any sales (or leadership) “technique”.
3. Be truly humble – Confidence without humility will turn off “prospects” every time. False “humility (e.g. stupid self-deprecating remarks will make them gag.)
4. Ask great questions – Find out what they truly need. Help them clarify their vision based on their scene, not what you’ve got to give. Listen more than you talk.
5. Focus on helping – Work to find creative solutions that solve people’s problems
6. Don’t sell past the close – Once the “customer” says yes, say thank you, and wrap it up. Don’t overstay your welcome

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