[Superman]

Dan, it looks like you are interested in this art form, and that means you will be learning. One of the most important things my momma told me is that getting good at something is as simple as liking it. If you like it, you will do it. Read about it. Watch it in practice. Practice yourself. I have walked this Earth with the certain knowledge that I will become good at the things I enjoy. Mom was correct.

I'll start you out with some ridiculously simple observations. First, as mentioned above, leaders do not lose their temper. In my world there are lots of meetings. Negotiations. Anger is a contest. The first one that loses their temper........loses.

Keep your mouth mostly shut. Study after study shows that peoples' perception of your intelligence level is inversely proportional to how much you speak. In meetings, I have noticed that the perfect posture is to lean back in your chair (if the chair leans back) and possibly move a couple of inches further from the table. Let everyone else do the talking. Once or twice during the meeting, lean forward........and ask a question. Then lean back again and shut up.

Be engaged. All the best comrades I know are busy, and hungry for more information, relationships, etc. Return ALL your phone calls. Look people in the eye. Be relaxed, but be interested.

Nod your head. Up and down as if saying "yes." When do do this while other talk, they will think you are listening. When you do this while you are talking, they will agree with you.

Do not be in a hurry. Leaders are not people who intuitively know the right course of action. Instead, they are people who know how to gather enough information and consensus to identify the right course of action. Consensus is HUGELY important, since it gets others working in parallel and bought into the outcome.

Catch people doing stuff right. Praise works. Criticism does not.

When you catch people doing stuff right, and if you do this consistently, those people will think you have good judgement. Let me say that another way: When you tell people they are valuable and that their decisions are good and their methods are good......they will think you have good judgement. Ability to discern. works like a charm.

So does saying someone's name. Everyone's favorite word is their name.

Show up early. Seriously. Be the first one in the office each day. This intimidates the hell out of your co-workers. In a good way.