what makes a good leader presentation

7 brilliant ways successful leaders start presentations

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“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” —Plato

When we speak, we have about 60 seconds to capture our audience’s attention, establish credibility, orient them to our topic, and motivate them to listen, says Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc., and author of “Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results.”

If you waste those precious opening seconds with a joke, an agenda, an apology, housekeeping details, a string of thank-yous, or a rambling, pointless paragraph littered with “ums” and “uhs,” your audience’s minds are likely to drift, and you may not get them back. “You need to put the art in the start, the most important part of the work,” says Price.

That’s a tall order for any speaker — and it requires us to develop and rehearse a well-crafted, attention-getting opener.

Price offers seven options:

1. Tell a captivating story.

“Of all the starters in your toolkit, storytelling is among the most powerful and consistently successful,” Price says. “As humans, we’re hard-wired to enjoy and learn from stories. From bedtime stories and campfires, to Broadway theaters and boardrooms — heroes, villains, conflict, plots, dialogue, and lessons learned draw us in, remind us of our own lives, and hold our attention.”

The story can be about you personally, which tells the audience first-hand why you’re invested in and passionate about the topic. Or you can tell a story about another person who the audience can learn from. “Another option: Tell a fable, wisdom tale, historic event, or anecdote,” Price says. “The idea is, start with a brief 60- to 90-second narrative that launches your speech and captivates your listeners, and make sure the story encapsulates the key point of your message.”

She suggests you consider these questions as you craft your version of “Once upon a time”: What challenges have you (or another) faced in relation to your topic? How did you (or another) overcome them? Who or what helped you or harmed you? What lessons were learned? What do you want your audience to gain, feel, or do as a result of the story?

2. Ask a rhetorical, thought-provoking question.

“As Shakespeare wrote in ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ ‘If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?'” says Price. “As a speaker, you ask rhetorical questions for persuasive effect; you don’t expect the audience to answer aloud, rather silently to themselves.

When crafted and delivered well, rhetorical questions influence an audience to believe in the position of the speaker. “Clearly, Shakespeare’s character Shylock is leading his listeners to think ‘yes’ four times in order to justify revenge against Antonio. What do you want your audience to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to?”

In addition to yes or no questions, you can also arouse curiosity and motivate your audience to think about the answer, she says.

3. State a shocking statistic or headline.

Price says the vice president of sales for America’s leading healthcare IT company successfully sells software solutions to hospitals by starting her presentations with the following:

“According to a new study in the Journal of Patient Safety, medical errors leading to patient death are much higher than previously thought. Preventable adverse events, known as PAEs, cause up to 400,000 deaths per year for patients who seek care at a hospital. That means medical errors are the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. Our vision is to create a world free of medical errors, and we need your help.”

“The statistic, bold claim, or headline needs to be directly related to the main purpose of your presentation,” Price explains. “Its impact ideally persuades the audience to listen and respond positively to your recommendation and next steps.”

4. Use a powerful quote.

“Employ the wise words of a well-known person, because the name allows you to tap into his or her credibility, likeability, and notoriety,” she says. The quote must have meaning and relevance to the audience.

Imagine you’re urging a group to reach consensus, or giving a talk on conflict management. You could open with: “Mark Twain once said, ‘If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.’ Even though some of us disagree on the xyz issue, each of us is necessary in reaching a resolution.”

5. Show a gripping photo.

A picture is worth a thousand words — “maybe even more,” Price says.

“Use photos instead of text, when possible,” she suggests. A quality photo adds aesthetic appeal, increases comprehension, engages the audience’s imagination, and makes the message more memorable.

Price offers the following example of an effective use of an image:

The president of an electronics equipment company needed his managers to cut costs. Rather than showing mundane charts, graphs, and spreadsheets, he opened the meeting by asking, “What sank the Titanic?” When everyone in unison replied, “an iceberg,” he displayed a beautiful high-definition image of an iceberg on the screen: the tip of the iceberg was clearly visible above the water; the much larger portion was dimly visible below the surface of the water.

“The same thing is about to happen to our company,” he continued. “Hidden costs — the dangers beneath the surface — are about to sink this company. I need your help.” This visual metaphor spawned a creative, productive brainstorming session that inspired every business unit manager to diligently hunt for what they labeled the “icebergs,” says Price. The result was saving millions and ultimately the company.

6. Use a prop or creative visual aid.

“A prop is a magnetic tool that hooks your audience and keeps them watching — or listening,” Price says. A visual aid can also help emphasize a point.

Price uses the example of a sales VP at a large insurance company, who happens to be an avid tennis player. She says he wanted to kick off his annual meeting with a bang — so he “brilliantly used his tennis racquet to emphasize ‘acing the competition,’ ‘rallying together as a team,’ and winning a ‘grand slam’ through great customer service.” Year after year, other speakers were compared to this leader’s creative ability to present a motivational message, she says.

“Think about how you could use items like a big wall clock, a colorful gift bag, juggling balls, a deck of cards, a bunch of carrots, or another prop, to introduce your topic, captivate the audience, inject humor, and drive home your message.”

7. Play a short video.

Imagine kicking off a product management meeting with a video of compelling customer testimonials, or opening a fundraising event for endangered species by showing an Amur Leopard playing with her cubs in the wild.

“Videos evoke emotional responses,” Price explains. “Unlike text and bullet points on a slide, you can employ people, pictures, and sound to reel in the audience, add drama, and communicate the gist of your message quickly.”

As Walt Disney said, “I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.”

This article is published in collaboration with Business Insider . Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter .

Author: Jacquelyn Smith joined Business Insider as the careers editor in February 2014.

Image: an empty meeting room is shown. REUTERS.

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Leading the Way: Strategies for an Effective Leadership Presentation

This article will provide you with essential strategies and tips on how to deliver an effective leadership presentation. Learn how to create a clear structure, engage your audience, and deliver a strong message. Get the tools you need to make your next leadership presentation a success.

Essential skills for success

Team building is important for any leader, as it helps to foster a sense of unity and trust among the members of the team. This can help to ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal and that each member is valued and respected.

Management skills are also necessary for successful leadership, as they help to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently, deadlines are met, and resources are managed appropriately.

Motivation is another important leadership quality. Leaders must be able to motivate their team members to work hard, remain focused, and stay on task.

Decision making is an important part of any leader's role, as it involves taking into account all available information and making the best decision for the team or organization.

Communication is essential for successful leadership, as it helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that everyone understands expectations.

Conflict resolution is also a key skill for any leader, as it is important to be able to address disputes and differences of opinion in a professional and effective manner.

Vision is also an important leadership quality, as it helps to provide direction and focus and can help to ensure that the team or organization is headed in the right direction.

Strategic planning is also an important leadership quality, as it helps to ensure that goals are set, plans are made, and resources are allocated appropriately.

Delegation is an important skill for any leader, as it helps to ensure that tasks and responsibilities are distributed among team members in an effective and efficient manner.

Overall, having a high quality presentation about leadership is essential for any successful team or organization. It can help to establish the necessary leadership qualities, such as team building, management skills, motivation, decision-making, communication, conflict resolution, vision, strategic planning, and delegation, which are all essential for success.

What are the essential elements of a successful leadership presentation?

Start with your audience. Each audience has unique elements that should be considered when planning a presentation.

For example, a leadership presentation to a group of middle managers should focus on actionable information that can be applied to their work. On the other hand, a leadership presentation to a group of executives should focus more on big picture ideas and long-term strategy.

Once you've considered your audience, it's time to think about your message. What is it that you want your audience to take away from your presentation? What are the main points that you want to highlight?

What strategies can be used to engage and motivate an audience?

A great way to engage an audience is to ask them questions. This is especially effective if you lead with a question that is open-ended and not too long or complicated. You can then use the answers to build a narrative that leads to your point. For example, here's a potential opening question: "What is your biggest struggle as a company owner?"

How can the presenter effectively convey their message?

When you're asked to give a presentation, make sure you know who you're talking to. You need to know their background, their interests, and their preferences. They may have specific needs that you should address. For example, they could be looking for specific information, or they could be seeking guidance on making a decision.

Make sure you tailor your presentation to meet their needs. If you don't, you run the risk of confusing or disappointing them. This is not what you want to happen, especially if you're looking to build a relationship with them or to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

How should the presenter handle questions from the audience?

Entrepreneurs have to do their homework and be prepared for any questions the audience might ask. As a presenter, it's important to be prepared for anything and to be able to respond quickly and confidently. The more you know about your topic, the more prepared you'll be for anything that comes up. So, practice presenting as many possible questions as you can.

What are some tips for delivering a successful leadership presentation?

As they say, practice makes perfect, so the more times you deliver your presentation the better you become at it. It's important to remember that presenting is a skill and like any other skill, it improves with time and practice. It's also important to remember that the more times you deliver your presentation, the better you become at it.

Even if you aren't presenting to an audience, it's still important to practice your presentation a few times. This will help you make sure that your slides are up to date and that you are ready to go. It also helps to make sure that your ideas are organized and that you are ready to answer any questions that may come up.

What can I do to ensure I remain confident?

The most critical aspect of this question is that the presenter should remain composed. In the context of presenting, this means remaining calm and collected, and not letting nerves or anxiety get in the way of the message you are trying to convey. Keeping composed is an important technique because it demonstrates confidence and authority, which are key factors in presenting successfully.

Other techniques to ensure the presenter remains confident include drinking plenty of water, maintaining good posture, and taking deep breaths

How can the presenter make his presentation memorable?

Guaranteed: if you don't make your presentation memorable, you won't increase your chances of getting hired. If you're an entrepreneur, you're often the person who is selling yourself, so you need to be able to market yourself in every way possible.

One way to market yourself is to be more personal and interesting. You need to stand out from the rest of the crowd. You need to be able to spark the audience's interests, make them laugh, and keep them engaged throughout your presentation.

Tell a story. You can start by adding more personal stories to your presentation, as these are sure to spark the audience's interests.

You can also add humor to your presentation to make it more memorable and to get the audience laughing. Humor is a great way to engage the audience and to create a memorable experience for them.

What elements can be included in a leadership presentation to inspire the audience?

A leadership presentation is a chance to share your story, vision, and values. You have to be genuine, and have a clear purpose and message. Otherwise, your audience will see right through any artificial presentation or sales pitch.

So include elements that showcase your character and humanity. Think about what makes you unique and special. If you're starting a company, what are your company's values? What do you stand for? Share those things and more with your audience. By being authentic and open, you'll be able to inspire your audience and make them feel connected to you and your leadership.

In conclusion, a successful leadership presentation requires a great deal of preparation and practice. Essential elements include an engaging opener, a well-structured body, a clear and compelling message, and a memorable conclusion.

Strategies to engage and motivate an audience include using stories, visuals, and analogies. To effectively convey their message, the presenter should use a strong, confident delivery and practice active listening. Questions from the audience should be handled with respect and answered honestly.

Preparation for a leadership presentation should include researching the audience, crafting a compelling story, and rehearsing thoroughly. To make the presentation memorable, the presenter should use stories and humor, and create visuals that will catch the audience's attention.

Finally, elements such as inspiring quotes, a call to action, and an array of visuals can be used to help make the presentation motivating and inspiring. With these tips and techniques in mind, leaders can deliver successful presentations that will engage and motivate their audience.

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Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills: More in Demand Now Than Ever

When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.

Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.

For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.

And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.

Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.

Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.

The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.

The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.

So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.

The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.

You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.

Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?

Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.

Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).

When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.

Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.

A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!

Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .

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12 Presentation Tips Every Leader Must Practice

The word “leader” comes with a great deal of responsibility. Being a leader one is expected to lead the team members in an organized and perfect way. The company's working set-up has been changed over the years. And so has the role and function of a leader. Being a leader you should know about all the work functions, and internet marketing tactics to lead your team to new heights.

As a leader, how you express yourself and engage with others is very important. As such, presentations are a great opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills.

Consider the following list of tips as a checklist of everything you must do to ensure that your presentation flows smoothly.

Self Leadership vs Progressive Leadership

Before we get to the presentation tips every leader must practice, let’s quickly understand more about leadership and types.

What are some core leadership skills?

Self-awareness
Communication
Strategic thinking

What is self leadership?

Self leadership is crucial to accomplish your career goals and become a great leader. The self leadership definition is intentionally utilizing your thinking, actions, and emotions towards your goal. The primary self leadership skills are planning and scheduling, setting goals for life and business, avid interest in learning, clear focus, and discipline.

What is progressive leadership?

The progressive leadership definition is that someone who likes to challenge the status quo focuses on positive things and avoids negativity. Progressive leadership is about having a concern for their employees, and their core focus is customers. They have nothing to prove to anyone and are good mentors to people who want to learn.

12 Best Presentation Tips for Leaders to Practice

1. know your audience.

As you will see in this list, the success of your presentation will depend on a variety of things. All of them, however, have to do with how well you connect with your audience. This is why knowing your audience is important.

Whether it’s a group of business professionals at a conference or a group of high school students, modify your presentation to fit the needs and expectations of your audience. This will convey your skills as a presenter and leader.

2. Structure Your Presentation

Your presentation needs to have a clear beginning, middle, and end. This structure will help guide your audience through your presentation. It will also illustrate the effort you put into preparing and giving the presentation.

As you prepare to give your presentation, try to divide it in three sections. If it’s difficult, make some adjustments. The more structured your presentation, the easier it will be to follow and the more engaged your audience will be.

3. Have a Well-Designed Presentation

A badly-designed presentation can make for a bored, uninterested, and frustrated audience. Designing your presentation to meet the needs of your audience can help prevent this. Always make sure that the color scheme, font size, and use of images is adequate for your audience.

If you’re unsure about your design skills, however, you have the option of finding a presentation template that fits your needs. If you want to show professionalism in your line of work, there are a variety of PowerPoint slides to choose from. Show your audience that you care and demonstrate your leadership skills by having a well-designed presentation.

4. Dress the Part

The time and effort you put into giving a great presentation means little if you don’t look the part. Dressing too casual or too formal can be distracting, making it seem like you lack self-awareness.

To avoid this, make sure you have all the details relevant to your presentation, including the dress code. Then, pick an outfit that matches the dress code .

5. Get Organized

Being organized is a simple yet effective way to convey your leadership skills. A good leader is not only knowledgeable but also organized and prepared. Before your presentation, make sure you have your visual aids, notes, and other tools in order.

Getting organized will also help to boost your self-confidence and calm your nerves. This preparedness tells your audience (and yourself) that you are the best person for the job of presenting.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice

One of the easiest ways to ensure that your presentation runs smoothly is to practice. The more you practice what you are going to say during your presentation, the more confident you will feel about giving it.

A few days before your presentation, take some time to practice . This will allow you to notice the parts where you can improve. It will also help to depend on your written notes less.

7. Arrive Early

Nothing damages the impression you make with your audience more than arriving late. Regardless of your reasons, arriving late to your own presentation hurts your image as a leader. It tells your audience that you didn’t care enough to be on time.

Avoid this negative impression by arriving early. If you can, you might want to greet some of the audience members before your presentation.

8. Test for Technical Issues

Where things can go wrong, they often will. Try not to carry your presentation in pendrives. The use of big data in business has grown immensely. Cloud storage and other big data uses business can easily help in storing your presentation in the cloud.

Sometimes the audio doesn’t work correctly, or your presentation isn’t in the right format. These small but significant technical issues can put a damper on your presentation.

If you’ve followed the previous tip and arrived early, take the time to make sure everything works the way it’s supposed to. This will help you prevent any technical issues during your presentation.

9. Speak Clearly

If you want to command the attention of your audience, you need to be eloquent in your way of speaking. Mumbling your way through a presentation will only make it more difficult for your audience to hear you. As a good leader, you want to speak clearly , so everyone can understand you.

Additionally, make sure to avoid using too many filler words such as um , uh , and like . Filled words distract from the message you are trying to send and illustrate how nervous or unprepared you may be.

10. Show Your Enthusiasm

How you give your presentation is just as important as what you have to say. As you practice, notice the way you speak and move. Your body language can say a lot about how you feel, so try not to stay tense and still throughout your presentation.

You can also show your enthusiasm by smiling. Noticing your body language is important , and can show your audience just how much you enjoy the time you’re spending with them.

11. Engage With The Audience

If you want to keep your audience focused and entertained, you need to engage with them. Though presentations might seem like a one-way deal, engaging with your audience shows how well of a leader you can be.

As you give your presentation, take the time to connect with your audience by asking them questions. Additionally, take some time at the end of your presentation to answer any questions your audience might have.

12. Thank Your Audience

presentation tips for leaders in business

If you want to ensure that you made a good impression, be sure to acknowledge the role your audience played in your presentation.

Your audience gave you their time and attention to listen to what you had to say. Show them the same respect by both listening to their feedback and thanking them for their time.

From the planning stage to the audience’s applause, this list is meant to help you improve every aspect of the presentation process. Follow them to ensure you give your audience exactly what they want while illustrating your leadership skills.

Check Out These Related Posts:

Guide To Creating Unforgettable Presentations

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10 Presentation Ideas For Leadership Teams and Training

Leadership teams shape organizations for better or for worse. They’re responsible for guiding teams and moving things— big or small— forward. So what makes a great leader versus one that causes employees to leave a company?

When you think of a great leader, it’s probably a specific characteristic that comes to mind. Qualities like respect, self-awareness, trust, influence, collaboration, and strong communication skills can set extraordinary managers apart from mediocre ones. But how leaders listen, learn, and communicate with their employees is just as important. Because of that, leaders— regardless of the industry— need to hold themselves accountable and continuously seek out ways to grow as a manager.

It’s not uncommon for companies to host offsites or retreats to bring the leadership team together for brainstorming, planning, and training. This helps align leaders across various departments, teams, and offices, while offering them the tools they need to be more successful in their role.

When preparing a presentation for leadership teams and training, it's crucial to focus on content that resonates with the audience's strategic mindset and their role in guiding the organization. Here are some leadership presentation ideas to help inspire your own content.

Leadership presentation ideas

Presentations can act as a platform to encourage learning and collaboration among different leaders. Do you have a leadership retreat coming up? Here are 10 leadership presentation ideas to help train and motivate your own leadership team.

Effective leadership strategies

As a recurring training, you might share effective leadership strategies with your executive team. This presentation would act as a refresher of the latest trends and best practices in leadership. This could include insights on empathetic leadership, fostering a positive company culture, and embracing diversity and inclusion.

Change management

How should managers and leadership teams address the challenges and opportunities associated with change within the organization? A change management presentation would provide strategies for how leaders can navigate transitions successfully, with the least amount of disruption to the team.

Strategic planning and decision-making

A strategic planning and decision making presentation will offer insights into the process of setting achievable goals and making informed decisions. Organizations might also use a strategic planning presentation to lead their own company brainstorming sessions at a leadership all-hands meeting.

Team development and engagement

Team development and engagement is important for the overall success of the team. In this presentation you might share techniques for fostering a high-performing and engaged team, including methods for providing feedback, coaching, and creating a supportive work environment.

Communication skills

Communication skills can make or break a leader. A training session on effective communication in leadership roles could be beneficial for both managers and executives of all levels. Here you could offer practical tips for clear, transparent, and empowering communication.

Leading through uncertainty

Given the current business landscape and layoffs happening across various industries, leadership teams need to know how to handle hard situations. This presentation idea for leadership teams would discuss strategies for navigating uncertainty and ambiguity, including how to maintain resilience and inspire confidence in a team concerned about job security.

Embracing innovation and creativity

It’s no secret that AI is here to stay, and teams are having to pivot to accommodate new technology. Use a thoughtful presentation to encourage leaders to embrace innovation and promote a culture of creativity within the organization. The slides in this deck could showcase the benefits of adopting innovative approaches and thinking outside the box.

Building high-performance teams

Leaders need the right tools and knowledge to be able to guide positive performance. Employers might offer a training “how-to” on best practices for assembling and nurturing high-performance teams. This deck should include strategies for fostering collaboration, trust, and accountability among teammates.

Data-driven decision making

As a leader, leveraging data to make more informed decisions should be top of mind. This leadership presentation idea can highlight the importance of leveraging data and analytics in decision-making processes, and offer guidance on how to incorporate data-driven insights into leadership strategies. This could include ways to implement KPIs, OKRs, or other effective ways to track the performance of individual contributors and campaigns.

Ethical leadership

A wildly important leadership topic is ethics. Upper management should be well-educated in ethical leadership, and how that impacts the success of the team. An ethical leadership presentation could include the significance of ethics, the impact it has on organizational culture, employee morale, and long-term success, and how to ensure it’s top of mind in each department on a daily basis.

Beautiful presentations to drive your message home

You have a presentation topic, now what? The hardest part of presentation design is going from idea to deck with little design skills to back you up. Thankfully, there's a presentation software for that. Insert: Beautiful.ai. Beautiful.ai helps leadership teams create beautiful presentations so they can pack a bigger punch with their message and inspire their audience. Presenters can use one of Beautiful.ai's customizable pre-built presentation templates — like the training presentation — or leverage our AI-assistant to create a presentation from scratch specific to their topic. By creating beautiful decks you can engage your audience, drive your message home, and leave your leadership team feeling inspired to make a difference.

Jordan Turner

Jordan is a Bay Area writer, social media manager, and content strategist.

How To Use Your Presentation Skills To Be A Great Leader

What comes to mind when you think of a great leader? Typically, a strong, authoritative presence, someone with influence and gravitas who can command your attention, engage and enthuse you.

Whilst these characteristics come naturally to some, others need to learn and hone them.

This is an exciting prospect for anyone looking to take their leadership to the next level. We each have the potential to become a great leader. However, we need to know how to develop those characteristics. We also need to have the commitment to see it through.

So how do we go about this?

Think before you deliver

Being able to communicate powerfully is fundamental to becoming a great leader. Which is why when you look around at great leaders they can all present with great skill.

Crucially though, it is not so much about what you say, but how you deliver and the words you use.

Two people can stand up and communicate essentially the same subject matter, but the way in which it is delivered will influence the reception it receives. Julian Treasure, founder of the world’s first strategic sound consultancy speaks about using four powerful cornerstones to frame how you deliver what you wish to say . These are honesty, authenticity, integrity and love. He argues that if you use these four as a framework when communicating, people will listen. Be negative, confuse fact with opinion, or exaggerate the facts and your audience will switch off.

Equally important is how you listen and answer questions. In particular, how you handle challenges to your point of view take on board other points of view. There is no point working hard to capture everyone’s attention only to lose it because you fail to listen when it’s your audience’s turn to speak. Or even worse, you panic and become defensive when challenged.

Training programmes such the personal impact programmes offered by Positive Consultancy can really help. As well as focusing on how you deliver, they provide coaching on how to improve your listening, how to handle questions and how to recover from difficult situations.

But delivery is only part of the story. What else do you need to develop the presentation skills that will make you a great leader?

It’s not only what you say, but how you say it

Julian describes our voices as tools that we very much under-use. If we deploy them correctly though, they can really get you heard and listened to. When we think about our voice in relation to effective presentation skills, yes, most of us are aware that the slower and deeper the better. However, there is so much more from the timbre of your voice – the smoother the better – to its volume and pitch.

You may be naturally blessed with some or all of these vocal characteristics. If not, they can be learned.

Again, programmes such as the above mentioned personal impact programme can help you develop an inspiring believable vocal line. They can also help you learn how to turn silence into a powerful tool to help you capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

What is your body language saying though?

According to Social Psychologist, Amy Cuddy, as humans, we naturally make sweeping judgements based on our body language and can make life changing decisions as a result, such as who to hire or who to date. As a leader, your body language will therefore play a significant role in whether someone decides to trust, believe in and follow you.

Through her studies into the nonverbal expressions of power and dominance, Amy discovered that humans very much reflect the animal kingdom in that they make themselves big, open themselves up and take up space. Likewise, they do the opposite when they are fearful or afraid. She wanted to see whether you could turn instinctive reflex on its head. By making yourself display nonverbal expressions of power and dominance, could you make yourself feel powerful? Could we in fact make our bodies change our minds? Experiments she ran yielded conclusive results that they did.

When it comes to good presentation skills, being able to control your nonverbal reflexes in this way can really make a difference as to whether you can win over your audience or not.

A little less conversation, a little more action please

However, knowing and talking about what you need to do to present well to become a better leader is only part of the journey. Committing to it, is the other, which is not always an easy task, and this is where executive leadership coaching can help. Helping you develop a mindset that builds the drive to succeed, to commit to your learning and development, and to take risks and actually take action.

Programmes such as Positive Consultancy’s leadership coaching can help you develop the right mindset to commit yourself to taking the necessary steps to becoming a great leader – a fundamental one of course being to develop and sharpen your presentations skills.

So, there is a great leader within each of us. Finding the right training in presentation skills supported by the right executive leadership coaching to make sure we act is an assured way to bring out the leader within.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you enhance your presentation skills, get in touch today for a free initial consultation.

How to Create Slides That Suit Your Superiors: 11 Tips

When you’re pitching ideas or budgets to execs in your organization, you need to deliver slides that fit those particular people just right. This checklist identifies the key considerations.

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I recently interviewed 20 of my customers, all in senior roles at Fortune 100 companies, and asked them their biggest pain point in presenting to higher-ups and even colleagues. What I heard consistently was that it can feel like Goldilocks bouncing from one option to the next, testing to figure out what’s “just right.” Does the audience want deep reports? Sparse slides? Something in between? Like … what?

Teams often come to presentation meetings with vast amounts of backup content just in case an exec wants to take a deep dive on any given point. There’s often a struggle to anticipate every direction attendees might want to go. It’s frustrating, and it’s not efficient.

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There are many ways to build slides. I’m not just talking about crafting them well versus poorly. I’m talking about all of the important decisions regarding how to organize them, how much text to use, when to lean into a chart, the best ways to use bullets and color, and whether to include an appendix with additional information. Before you make your next proposal or request of the executive team, use this list of 11 tips for your next set of slides as a guide.

Four Things You Must Have in Every Exec’s Slides

Before we drill down into the harder aspects, the ones where your executives’ tastes may vary widely, let’s quickly cover four aspects that you can consider the building blocks — the basics you should never proceed without.

Start with an executive summary. Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure. First, start with stating the current realities. Second, clearly state the problem or opportunity your idea addresses and its potential impact. Third, explain how your recommendation solves the problem or exploits the opportunity and the next steps you’re proposing.

Have a logical organization. The arc of the deck — the package from beginning to end — should make sense. If your audience reads only the headline of every slide, the order should be coherent and make most of the case for you. The content below each slide’s headline must support the statement made in the title. Remove everything that doesn’t support your point; as writers will tell you, you sometimes need to “kill your darlings” when you’re editing.

Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure.

Make it skimmable. Help your audience to quickly grasp the point without getting bogged down in details. Create a clear visual hierarchy. Guide the reader’s eye through the content: Use bold headings, bullet points, and numbered lists to break down information into digestible pieces. Highlight key takeaways or conclusions in a different color or font size to draw attention to these critical points.

Focus on concise insights. Succinct statements with clear insights are everyone’s jam. Every slide should serve a purpose and contribute directly to the decision-making process. Distill complex information. Don’t use 100 words when 20 words will nail it. If you’re having difficulty trimming, consider using company-approved AI tools to help you take out the fluff.

Five Preferences to Confirm With the Person You Want to Reach

Now we’ll delve into what your particular audience does and does not want. If you haven’t yet, start by asking the person you’re presenting to what they generally prefer. They probably know themselves well but have not been asked to articulate how they like to receive information.

Ask how dense is too dense. Some executives prefer detailed slides with comprehensive data. Others favor a more high-level approach. You’re weighing how to balance informative content with readability, ensuring that slides are not overloaded yet are sufficiently detailed to support decision-making.

Confirm the delivery format and timing. Some execs like information presented to them. Others prefer a pre-read of the material followed by a discussion. I always recommend our tool Slidedocs (I’ve written a free e-book on them), which are visual documents using both words and images. The templates help presenters organize their thoughts into a document for a pre-read or a read-along. They are designed to be skimmable and able to travel through your organization without the help of a presenter.

I’m a huge fan of pre-reads and prefer to use my time in meetings to ask questions and build alignment. If your audience didn’t review your material in advance, ask at the top of the meeting whether they would like you to present it or would prefer to read through it and then discuss it.

Find out how much data visualization they prefer. Charts, graphs, photos, and illustrations often communicate complex data more clearly than words alone. When execs can see what you’re saying, they often can better understand the impact of your idea. Does the exec want to understand exact numbers? Bar charts allow them to move their eyes across a series of specifics. Does the exec want to know the shape of a trend over time? Line charts can show the pattern. (See “Classic Charts Communicate Data Quickly.”) Some prefer charts with annotations that draw attention to what you think is the most important point. Others want to make their own conclusions from the data.

One of my clients, the CEO of a massive commercial real estate company, doesn’t want anything visualized. He prefers numbers, only in a table, and only in two colors — black and red. You might think this is archaic. But the fact that he’s clear to his teams about what he wants takes all the mystery out of how to communicate with him.

When the stakes are high, have a conceptual thinker help with diagrams and concepts. If you don’t have one on your team, and when it’s high stakes, find an internal designer to help you or hire one. You can’t afford to have the baby (your idea) thrown out with the bathwater (terrible slides).

Identify which details need spelling out. How well do the people you’re presenting to know the landscape and function of the company and products you’re talking about? For example, if your engineering team threw a slide into a deck about an issue that requires executive approval, do the execs all speak geek? Or do you need to explain the technology so that they will really understand the ask? Either eliminate internal jargon and acronyms or unpack those bits, especially if your proposal deeply involves expertise outside of the executives’ domain.

Ask whether appendices will be useful. When you’re organizing a presentation, you often troll data, read through complicated reports, and even hire external experts to figure out what’s best for the company. Do your execs want access to that supporting data? You can add a document to the end of the presentation as an appendix to show all of the data and source material. This allows the main content of the slides to remain focused and accessible while still providing comprehensive background information for those who want more.

Two Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Getting materials in place is the biggest step. They will be your best tools for selling your ideas. But there are two extra areas to pay attention to as a presenter: how you handle questions and how you use every experience to improve.

Anticipate questions, and practice your answers. Before you have your meeting, gather a small team to challenge every point you make. Invite colleagues you trust to role-play as “a rapidly inquisitive exec” or “the doubting naysayer exec” so you are prepared to present your idea well. They’re gonna grill you, and practicing will help you remain unruffled when it happens.

Ask for feedback after the presentation. Establish a feedback loop with those you presented to. Ask what worked well and how you can improve. If attendees don’t have the time, find people who have had their ideas funded and talk to them about what they did that worked. Advice and some perspective will help you nail your performance even better next time.

Empathetically understanding your audience members and how they process information, whether it’s executives or peers, sets up your ideas for success. Clarity creates efficiency. When a presentation fits just right, you’ve given your great thinking the best chance of moving through your organization and having maximum impact.

About the Author

Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte Inc. , a communication company in the Silicon Valley. She’s the author of six books, including DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story (Ideapress Publishing, 2019).

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What it takes to be a great leader

women in business

What makes a good leader?

Jul 29, 2014

280 likes | 629 Views

What makes a good leader?. M s. Chris McClendon Dr. Celvia Stovall Mr. Stan Windham. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Discussion Points.

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What makes a good leader? Ms. Chris McClendon Dr. Celvia Stovall Mr. Stan Windham The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Discussion Points • Transformational Leadership • Servant Leadership • Core Principles of Leadership • Skills of effective leaders • Critical Thinking Skills • Communication Skills • Decision Making Skills The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Transformational Leadership • Begins with a vision – leader buys into it, hook, line and sinker. • The leader constantly sells the vision – this never stops. Takes every opportunity and will use whatever works to convince others to climb on board. • Transformational leaders continually pursue three goals: • Helping staff members develop and maintain a • collaborative professional culture; • Fostering professional development; and • Helping employees solve problems more efficiently. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Transformational Leadership • Bernard M. Bass identified four components of transformational leadership: • Charismatic Leadership • Inspirational Motivation • Intellectual Stimulation • Individualized Consideration The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Transformational Leadership • TL’s motivate others partially due to the respect and trust that they have earned in their roles. • Goal is to ensure that the voices of those that they lead are heard in a genuine and sincere way. • Seek input of others into the mission of their organizations and lead by moral example in many ways. • Administrators in the public sector have an increased focus on professional development and research which often focuses on the numerous benefits gained by becoming a transformational leader. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Servant Leadership • Serve others, rather than serving the leader. • Serving others thus comes by helping them to achieve and improve. • The people served grow as individuals, becoming ‘healthier, wiser, more autonomous and more likely themselves to become servants’. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Principles of Servant Leadership • Transformation as a vehicle for personal and institutional growth. • Personal growth as a route to better serve others. • Enabling environments that empower and encourage service. • Service is a fundamental goal. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Principles of Servant Leadership • Trusting relationships as a basic platform for collaboration and service. • Creating commitment as a way to collaborative activity. • Community building as a way to create environments in which people can trust each other and work together. • Nurturing the spirit as a way to provide joy and fulfillment in meaningful work. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Core Principles of Leadership • (Kellogg Study) • Self Knowledge • Competence • Authenticity • Collaboration • Shared Purpose • Empathy • Division of labor • Respectful disagreement The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Critical Skills for Effective Leaders • Critical Thinking Skills • Communication Skills • Decision Making Skills The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

How to Make a Decision – Focusing on County Commissioners For County Commissioners, decisions can come from many angles – some are decisions made on familiar ground, some on unfamiliar ground, and some are momentous decisions. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

A Suggested Decision Making Cycle To Use Is As Follows: • Orient Yourself to the Situation • Identify Key Facts • Identify Major Problem or Problems • Proposal of Possible Causes and Identification of Main One • Determine Probable Solutions • Aggressive Application of Determined Solution • Check whether the Solution is Right or Wrong, and If Needed - Try Again

Familiar Ground Decisions These are by far the easiest decisions to make – these decisions are based mainly on experience and are many times made faster and more accurately than decisions made that require a commissioner, county administrator, engineers, and/or other county personnel to enter more unfamiliar areas.

Unfamiliar Ground Decisions In this case – it is critical to use a decision making cycle to make more accurate decisions.

The first 2 steps – orienting oneself completely to the situation and identifying key facts - are critical when dealing with unfamiliar situations. After these are considered the other steps of the decision making model can then be implemented. After all of these steps are accomplished – combined with some related experience – progress toward making a good decision can be made.

Momentous Decisions Momentous Decisionsor important decisions that could significantly affect the future of a county – they are many times steeped in uncertainty and a full understanding of the facts is not always possible.

To Handle Momentous Decisions The Following Approach May Help: • Assume that what has worked in the past will continue to work – be willing to modify as needed. • Identify the things you know for sure about the situation. • Pinpoint the areas of the momentous decision that can be solved by logical reasoning. Seek facts and educated opinions and use these to help you make clear & logical decisions. • Don’t underestimate force and action in affecting the decision.

Example: Although funds were very tight - a county needed badly to upgrade 3 bridges on 3 different county roads. The county was faced with the decision of closing the roads or upgrading the bridges. After looking at past work on bridges, looking at the firm facts related to bridge work, putting together facts and educated opinions about bridge renovation, talking to counties that had also faced this dilemma – they determined that one road could be closed and two bridges would be renovated. Once this was determined the county engineer and all commissioners pushed forward on the project in an aggressive fashion.

What can cause commissioners to fear big decisions or consistently make poor decisions? • Lack of a clear cut goal or goals related to an issue. • Insecurity in their position – political pressure. • They find themselves unprepared and under pressure to make a quick decision. • Not willing to exercise their authority – do not feel entitled to make a decision – to humble in some cases. • Not willing to change for the better – clinging to the status quo.

When To Change a Decision: • Don’t change your mind merely because you are running into obstacles. • Don’t change your mind if you are having trouble executing the decision. If the solution is right – stay the course. • Don’t redo all of your thinking in a hasty moment if your decision was made based on careful study and analysis. • However – if new facts or opportunities present themselves indicating there is a better way to solve an issue – don’t be afraid to change your course.

Decisions can be made based on your temperament or based on reason – to use both is the best. • Henry Taylor (1836) Source: George S. Odiorne, How Managers make things happen.

Conclusion • Strive to promote performance beyond expectations within a county. • Are able to affect enormous changes within individuals and organizations. • Transformational leadership appears to be the leadership style suited to current demands and issues most county personnel will encounter. • Serve as servant leaders. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

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5 Principles of Purposeful Leadership

Hubert Joly

Understanding why you’re in the room is more important than being the smartest one in it.

The traditional model of the leader-hero who saves the day, knows it all, is the smartest person in the room, and is too often driven by power, fame, glory, or money is not appropriate in today’s environment. People today expect a different kind of leader. While each company needs to define its own leadership point of view, the author presents five attributes that characterizes leaders who are able to unleash the kind of human magic you see at work at some of the most high-performing companies. First, be clear about your purpose. Second, be clear about your role. Third, be clear about whom you serve. Fourth, be driven by values. Finally, be authentic.

Growing up, I thought successful leaders were supposed to figure out all the answers on their own. Being smart — and making sure everyone else knew it — seemed to be their most striking attribute. The best schools were supposed to lead to the best jobs, which produced the best leaders. Power, fame, glory, and money were the measure of professional success. Early in my career, prominent business leaders like GE’s Jack Welch were revered for their intellect, strategic sense, and hard-charging style. They were considered infallible geniuses, inspiring a quasi-cult following.

Hubert Joly is the former chairman and CEO of Best Buy, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, and the author, with Caroline Lambert, of The Heart of Business . He has been recognized as one of the top 100 CEOs in the world by Harvard Business Review, one of the top 30 CEOs in the world by Barron’s, and one of the top 10 CEOs in the U.S. by Glassdoor. Joly is now keen to add his voice and his energy to the necessary refoundation of business and capitalism around purpose and people.

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Healthcare Leadership: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Industry Advice Healthcare Leadership

There’s an immense need, now more than ever, for effective leadership in healthcare. Specifically, the global pandemic has highlighted the importance of innovative healthcare leaders who are able to quickly formulate effective solutions. Additional challenges such as healthcare accessibility and affordability require effective forward-thinking leaders.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can make a mark in healthcare today, here’s an overview of what healthcare leadership is, why it’s important, and what makes an effective leader in the healthcare system.

What is Healthcare Leadership?

Leadership is often defined as an ability to manage a team effectively. This definition, however, is only a part of what makes an effective leader. Healthcare leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo, but identifying challenges in the system and finding solutions to those problems.

According to Dr. Robert Baginski, the program director of Northeastern University’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) in Healthcare Leadership program, “Healthcare leadership is taking an active role in the direction of healthcare today.” It involves more than managing a healthcare organization, overseeing staff, or dealing with insurance. Baginski continues to explain that “Healthcare leadership ideally should be guiding healthcare in the direction that we feel it should go in the future.”

Importance of Leadership in Healthcare

Effective leadership in healthcare is incredibly important, especially when considering the expense of modern care. Here’s a closer look at the various ways that effective leadership can make a lasting impact.

1. Improves Quality of Care

Effective leadership is integral to quality healthcare . If a healthcare team is uncoordinated or unfocused, patients often pay the price. Great leaders facilitate communication, boost productivity, and put others first. This ability is critical to quality patient care since healthcare often requires a rapid response to issues that arise. In such situations, communication and efficiency are vital.

2. Creates Adaptable Leaders

One of the most prominent examples of needing adaptability in healthcare is the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the American Psychological Association identified seven crucial leadership qualities necessary for combatting the pandemic.

Effective stress management
Empathy and optimism when sharing information
Building trust with expertise and dependability
Honesty and transparency
Consistent communication
Openness to feedback
Should be role models

When unpredictability and uncertainty is rampant, effective leadership is crucial. An excellent leader won’t just be able to navigate a stressful situation but also lead others through it and find solutions for the future.

3. Encourages Forward-Thinking

Leadership and management are often used as synonyms, but the reality is that leadership involves much more than the day-to-day operations of a business. Healthcare in particular has a need for leaders who are looking to the future of healthcare and how to improve it.

While healthcare leadership is important to every country, according to the World Population Review , the United States has higher healthcare costs than any other country. Furthermore, while the number of uninsured individuals in the U.S. is lower than ever , the healthcare system is highly dependent on access to this type of coverage.

According to a report from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker , compared to similar countries, the United States has:

The highest pregnancy-related mortality rate
A higher-than-average rate of diabetes and congestive heart failure
A higher percentage of reported medication and treatment errors than the majority of comparable countries

According to Baginski, improvements to the healthcare system are possible with effective leadership. “Ideally, I feel healthcare should be looking to the future, toward solutions where we can provide the best and the most healthcare to those who need it most, regardless of insurance status, access to money, or where they live.”

4. Produces Innovative Leaders

One of the most prevalent challenges facing the healthcare industry today is the chronic shortage of healthcare professionals . An increasing number of healthcare professionals are experiencing burnout, and approximately 47 percent of healthcare workers in the U.S. are planning to leave their current position within the next three years. A 2022 survey of 1,000 healthcare staff found that 48 percent don’t believe their organization is doing enough to address burnout.

The healthcare industry is in need of leaders who are able to identify the problems that are leading to burnout and resolve them. Baginski explains that good leaders do two things differently when compared to ineffective leaders:

Identification: Recognizing problems as they arise, and proactively considering potential problems. For example, the same survey reported that 57 percent of healthcare workers are concerned that their highly repetitive tasks will ultimately lead to burnout.
Innovation: Finding solutions to those problems and contributing to the future of healthcare. To address the repetitive tasks in healthcare, many healthcare workers are hopeful that technology and automation will improve their overall experience and allow them to focus more closely on patient care.

What Makes a Healthcare Leader Effective?

Individuals who take on a leadership role in healthcare need several skills to be effective. Five essential leadership skills in healthcare are:

Mentorship: An effective leader doesn’t stand above others but seeks to foster leadership qualities in them.
Challenging the status quo: Leaders aren’t content with the status quo but are always seeking opportunities to innovate and improve.
Educating others: In addition to mentoring others at the individual level, effective leaders seek to educate others outside of their direct influence.
Humility: An effective leader isn’t afraid to accept feedback or criticism. Since much is unknown about healthcare, mistakes are often inevitable. A good leader will admit their mistakes or skill and expertise gaps.
Creating opportunities for others: Leaders always look to the future. Instead of sole personal improvement, an effective leader will prioritize helping the next generation of healthcare professionals obtain leadership traits.

One of the most detrimental traits to quality healthcare is complacency. Self-satisfaction often leads to stagnation rather than proactivity. An effective leader recognizes their limitations and understands that there’s always something new to learn. According to Baginski, “Bad leadership is keeping things as they always have been because that’s the way they’ve been done previously. That doesn’t get you anywhere.”

Ready to Develop Your Leadership Skills?

If you’re hoping to advance your career in healthcare to a leadership position, it’s important to ensure that you’re prepared. One of the best ways to obtain the relevant skills and qualifications to advance to a leadership role is to obtain a relevant degree.

“Get all of your education and your experience first, and then get all of your information before you address that problem,” says Baginski. “Learn how to critically assess information and get all your ducks in a row before you start to confront change.”

If you want to become a more effective leader and advance your career, consider obtaining Northeastern University’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) in Healthcare Leadership . This degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to take your first steps into a successful leadership role.

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