Communication and making it relatable to people is key. Telling stories that stakeholders & team members can get excited about. Showing your passion when talking & keeping the vision grounded in reality, achievable but challenging & transformative. When you get the right mix it can energise a team with a shared direction

You can't force influence. Authenticity and personality are key ingredients to someone standing out as a thought leader. Are they authentic in that they have legitimate, established experience and expertise - are they someone their peers look to for counsel? Do they have a natural, engaging style with people where their presence is felt and appreciated? The reality is that some people just have that "it" quality, and as a communicator, it's your job to help identify those people and help them bring the best version of themselves forward in the right places.

Vision is important and it can make you or break you. Vision aligned with goal and actionables is important for success. Challenges co-exists with opportunities and it is inportant to understand the same. Often a visionary leader doesn’t bother to take up the cudgel of ownership. It’s important to ensure that each team member is aligned with the vision and the goal so that strategy worked at yields the desired results.

Art of visualising larger picture to team and working with people to make it possible. It is always said to dream big but attainment requires perseverance, preparedness, collaboration, willingness to learn and ability to negotiate.

It's all about understanding your own emotions and those of others, which helps you build strong connections and foster a positive work environment. For example, in my experience, developing EI has allowed me to navigate challenging situations with empathy and clarity, turning conflicts into opportunities for growth. By inspiring trust and loyalty through emotional awareness, I've seen how it can unite a team towards achieving ambitious goals together. Ultimately, EI isn't just about managing emotions; it's about harnessing them to create a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.

EI is sometimes under played by organisations and leaders use tick box as affirmation on the same. Real EI requires ability to understand and empathise with employees. One can be affirmative and not yield to demands of others with emotional intelligence. EI can be an enabler in building team dynamics.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the major factor in making a leader a successful influential leader. Empathy, Resilience & Adaptability are the qualities exhibited by an influential leader, that help demonstrate flexibility, stay calm and composed under pressure, manage stress & quickly adapt to changes. Leaders with EI tend to create a helpful and inclusive atmosphere for the teams to feel appreciated and understood, actively listening and showing genuine concern for their well-being. This helps build strong, trusting relationships with motivated teams that foster loyalty, driving collaborated success as an influential leader.

Being a designer, working with and for emotions is part of the profession. Ability of a designer leader can only mean handling EI to build on that. I don’t remember in how many meetings I may have said this but “be the human” while strategising on ideas and building solutions. It is still rare to see a design leader at the table along with business folks, giving perspectives that are not to be found in numbers. For the team, the leader can show vulnerability as well so that even the team can start feeling included and not just part of the execution. It can only push them further for their growth eventually leading to the team’s success on numbers and motivation.

I’ve found 4 of the most important and influential emotions across the globe for individuals are: Love Hope Fear Nostalgia These tend to the emotional intelligence that we all share and experience. Going through the behavioral side of what makes these stick in our minds and through our bodies can create an influential leader.

Make a decision. Sometimes you will get it wrong, most times you are likely to get it right. In the military, we knew that any decision we made, with the best information we had at that time, would always be flawed in some way. The situation would change from the point of decision to the point of execution. If you have a motivated and capable team, who understand what it is you are trying to achieve and their overall mission, they are still highly likely to accomplish the desired outcome; even if the decision was imperfect. So a decision made in isolation is always open to either success or failure. A decision made within a framework of purpose, preparedness and an overarching mission will create progress. You either win or you learn.

Influential leaders are adept at steering organizations through decisive action. They methodically weigh options, anticipate outcomes, and courageously make tough calls. This approach fosters confidence, accountability, and clarity within the team. Effective leadership hinges on the ability to make and stand by decisions that propel the organization forward with purpose and resolve.

There is a fine line between decisive action and careless action. Creating a lean but well-researched process for action and decision-making is key, but being lean and driven by a single person drives us towards undemocratic and sloppy results. Organizations that master being as flat as possible, where great ideas come from all places and all people, and with trust and distributed decision-making help organizations thrive.

I have always followed Colin Powell's 40/70 rule. He states that you should have somewhere between 40% to 70% of total information to make a decision. If you don't have at least 40%, you may make a wrong decision due to lack of information. If you wait until you have more than 70%, you have probably waited too long. Timing is just as important as data. Get comfortable with not having all of the information you think you need to make a decision. Otherwise, you stand to be overcome by analysis paralysis and you will make more bad decisions than good.

Influential leaders gather information and make decisions, especially the tough ones with conviction. Great leaders are also smart and agile enough to watch and adjust. Holding tight to a decision without monitoring / measuring the progress towards a goal may be decisive and full of conviction, but it's dumb. We THOUGHT changing the packaging of a consumer product was a good idea, but sales went down -- clear feedback. Inside organizations, the feedback isn't so immediate and clear, so ensuring timely and metric-rich feedback and adjustment (agility) is key.

Integrity is indeed fundamental to building trust and credibility. When leaders consistently demonstrate their values, act transparently, and communicate honestly, they create a strong foundation for their influence. Leaders with integrity inspire confidence and loyalty in their teams, fostering a positive and ethical work environment. This not only enhances team morale but also drives long-term success and sustainability. Upholding ethical standards, even in challenging situations, sets a powerful example and reinforces the importance of doing the right thing.

In my experience, prioritizing transparency and honesty in communication has been pivotal in gaining trust and fostering a cohesive team environment. Leaders who consistently uphold their values, even in challenging circumstances, inspire confidence and create a culture where ethical behavior is the norm. By demonstrating integrity, leaders not only enhance their credibility but also establish a foundation for sustainable organizational success based on trust and accountability.

Whatever you do, do it in integrity. Influencers and thought leaders have a particular responsibility to think and act with positive intent. Additionally, that intent should be communicated in a manner that promotes clear, prinicipled concepts and understanding. Authenticity and knowing and living one's core values is paramount, regardless of what idea is being promoted. Because your word is your bond. Influence or 'imperceptible or indirect action exerted to cause changes' result in an "inflow" of ideas to informed and uninformed minds. Sometimes to the masses, this can change the entire trajectory of peoples' lives. As a thought leader, always practice Ahimsa. First, do no harm.

Integrity is the cornerstone of influential leadership. Uphold ethical standards in all your actions, decisions, and interactions. Ensure that your practices align with ethical principles, including fairness, transparency, and respect for others, thereby building a foundation of trust and respect.Lead with authenticity by being genuine and honest in your communication and actions. Transparency fosters trust and credibility, while authenticity allows you to build meaningful connections based on mutual respect and shared values, enhancing your influence and effectiveness. Focus on building and maintaining trust through consistent and reliable behavior. Demonstrate integrity by keeping your promises and being accountable for your actions.

An influential leader remains a perpetual student, committed to continuous learning and growth. By actively seeking new knowledge, embracing diverse perspectives, and challenging assumptions, leaders enhance their capabilities. This dedication not only enriches their leadership but also inspires teams to innovate and adapt. This approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement, positioning the leader to navigate dynamic landscapes with agility and foresight.

Highly recommend it’s important for people to do informational interviews. Over time, building and cultivating real relationships is the groundwork to be a thought leader and expert in your space. Be mindful, be genuine, and be open to learning.

That old cliche "one mouth, two ears" applies here... You can learn a lot from people's interactions with the content you publish - whether they're supportive of your ideas or they disagree... Both sides are worth a listen.

I like to remind people that continuous learning is not just about hoarding knowledge. It is about growth and evolution. In a time where information is at our fingertips it is actually quit ways to accumulate knowledge from a surface level viewpoint. Continuous learning should be focused on implementing learnings on a micro level, letting self be impacted and changed to impact their own life.

Adopt a growth mindset that embraces curiosity, learning, and personal development. Stay informed about industry trends, advancements, and best practices. Pursue ongoing education, attend conferences, and engage with thought leaders to continuously expand your knowledge and skills.Actively seek and integrate feedback from peers, team members, and stakeholders. Constructive feedback provides valuable insights into your performance and areas for improvement. Use this feedback to refine your approach and enhance your leadership effectiveness.

Over the course of my 30 year career, I have focused on building good Karma relationships. I start adding value as soon as I can, even if there does not appear to be a reciprocal value that the other person can add at that time. This principle has paid dividends beyond my wildest expectations. Plus, it’s just the right thing to do. Pay it forward. Be kind. Be a good person. Good things will happen.

Develop a strong network of relationships within your industry and beyond. Networking allows you to gain diverse perspectives, share knowledge, and identify potential collaborators or mentors who can support your leadership journey and initiatives.Cultivate relationships across different functions and departments within your organization. Cross-functional collaboration enhances your ability to align on goals, leverage diverse expertise, and drive cohesive strategies that address various stakeholder needs and challenges.Engage with industry communities, attend conferences, and participate in professional associations.

Lead by Example. Show your team how you would do something. They need not emulate or copy your approach, but it would help them understand that, you, as a leader are equally involved and invested in them and the work Encourage your team to find their own approach. Guide them, provide feedback and enable them to learn new skills which they can use to take decisions and find solutions.

Demonstrate Trust. True leaders who influence others - both within and beyond their organizations - start from a place of trust. Instead of waiting for others to earn your trust...give it to them - and wait for them to lose it. Leaders who take this approach are always highly regarded, and their opinions are weighty. Additionally, they establish themselves as people who treat others with the same respect and trust they seek in return. Trusted colleagues rarely disappoint them, because having someone's trust is powerful - and most people will work hard not to break that trust.

Embrace change as an opportunity for growth, and demonstrate your ability to navigate uncertainty with confidence and composure. Influence stems not only from having visionary insight but also from your ability to execute effectively. Translate your vision into actionable strategies, mobilize your team, and drive initiatives that bring your vision to life.Effective execution builds credibility and demonstrates your capacity to achieve impactful outcomes.Lead by example by embodying the qualities and behaviors you expect from others. Demonstrate commitment, resilience, and a positive attitude in your daily actions. Your leadership style sets the tone for your team’s culture and performance & leading by example inspires others to follow suit.