Leadership Development Archives | Van Hooser Associates, Inc

May 17, 2023

Growing from Employee to Leader: 6 Levels of Empowerment

Empowerment: A Tricky Business Empowerment — building the leadership bench strength of an organization requires a steady supply of leadership talent. Looking within the organization, managers and supervisors should consider opportunities to prepare those around them for ever more challenging leadership roles. That said, taking high potential candidates and moving them forward to leadership readiness […]

Aug 5, 2022

How Great Leaders Handle Gossip

How to Handle Gossip in the Workplace Workplace gossip can be irreversibly harmful to teams. But when it comes time to handle gossip in the workplace, most leaders won’t deal with the issue head-on. Why? Because it can be really uncomfortable and awkward. But if you don’t manage it, who will? Listen to this episode […]

Jun 22, 2022

The Succession Planning Secret to Get Promoted

When it comes to succession planning in your organization, are you in line to be promoted? Are you putting yourself in the best position to be considered? In too many cases, people looking to move up overlook one key step in their preparation. Let’s pull back the curtain on what decision-makers are looking for when promoting from within.

Jun 8, 2022

When ‘In Over Your Head’ Is a Good Thing

Feeling In Over Your Head? It can be an overwhelming, unsettling, literally “I can’t breathe” feeling. But for anyone really wanting to grow and succeed, being in over your head can actually be a good thing. Here’s a quick story to illustrate the point. Taking the Plunge During a canoeing adventure on Missouri’s scenic Current […]

Mar 11, 2021

Leadership Vision: 4 Steps to Create Yours

I often ask clients and audience members to share leadership traits they value. Predictably, many mention leadership vision. And rightfully so. The dictionary defines vision as, “the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom.” Certainly, thinking, planning, imagination and wisdom are valuable characteristics for leaders. Yet, for me, a second, […]

Feb 22, 2021

6 Inexcusable Leadership Flaws

We have a whole section in our leadership management training we call “unpardonable sins of leadership.” These leadership flaws are the actions and attributes that so obviously hamper good leadership that many people find them inexcusable. Take a couple minutes and do a self-check, your leadership reputation is worth it.

Jan 12, 2021

Intentional Leaders Steer Where They Stare

Several years ago, I took a motorcycle safety class. During the course, the instructor made a statement that applies not only to successfully riding a bike but also to successfully leading. The instructor said, “When you get on the bike, remember this: you will steer where you stare.” The same is true for intentional leaders. […]

Nov 24, 2020

What, How & Who to Share Your Gratitude

When you share your gratitude with someone, you strengthen the connection with them. When leaders connect with employees, the deeper connection leads to more trust, respect, and loyalty to one another. The key to sharing your gratitude with your people is simple — be sincere and be specific. Here’s the what, how & who when it comes […]

Oct 20, 2020

3 Leadership Skills to Bring Out the Best

Leaders in most every industry want to know what they can do to bring out the best in their people. Here are three distinct leadership skills to help any leader, at any time create an environment where people and performance flourish.

Leadership Development