Leadership Skills

People’s names are for them the most important sound in the language. Take the case of business magnate Andrew Carnegie, who by the time he was age 10 had discovered the excessive value people place on their own names.

Since my compulsion is to look at most things from a leadership angle, here are a few lessons I’ve learned so far from the practice of yoga: 1. Every day is different and is its own day. Yesterday is over. 2. Improve­ment comes incrementally, then suddenly. 3. Breathing can focus you. 4. Invest in your team and the results will follow.

These days, crisis is the new normal. “The people who are going to thrive in the future are those who can use this pressure to excel, as oxygen. People who have translated very difficult circumstances into opportunity,” says Justin Menkes, author of Better Under Pressure. What characteristics do such leaders share?

To pass the torch gracefully to Generations X and Y, boomers need to explain a few things: 1. Manners still matter. 2. Don’t reinvent the Edsel. 3. We care about spelling and grammar. 4. We need to feel valued and respected.

For a high achiever, the thought of doing a poor or even so-so job is abhorrent. That’s why so many leaders find their upward trajectory fizzle to a plateau. Rather than trying something new and risking poor performance, they lock into routine. How to get past self-imposed obstacles:

Predicted to earn more than $100 million in 2011, Lady Gaga is the latest darling of the leadership industry. Why? Because she has built a powerful brand and legions of followers by exuding charisma. A case study points out that Lady Gaga projects leadership by telling “three universal stories.”

Plan a reverse elevator pitch: Every­body knows about the 30-­second “elevator speech” aspiring employees should have on hand when riding the elevator with head honchos. But do you have a snippet ready for times you’re confined in a small space with a subordinate or a visitor?

You’re not above any work you have the skills to perform. Acting like you are will earn you nothing but disdain. So get down in the mud and turn the wrench.

Most Americans know about “saving face,” the Asian concept of preserving reputation, dignity and prestige. Less known is having a “thick face,” or being tough and adaptable while still saving face. There’s more to having a thick face, as defined by a Western businessman who worked for many years in China:

When we think about communicating information correctly, we think that more information is better. But it’s not, says author and behavioral economist Dan Ariely. He offers an example.