Leadership Archives | Van Hooser Associates, Inc

Sep 9, 2021

Talk With People: 6 Steps to Cut Complaints & Build Connection

Use these six communication steps when you talk with people, and watch complaints subside and your relationships improve!

Aug 10, 2021

A Leadership Lesson Learned the Hard Way

What is the one leadership lesson you’ve learned the hard way? Think about it for a minute — whatever it is, has it stuck with you? Mine has. But as hard as it was, it was a positive turning point in my leadership growth. Maybe my experience can save you some pain while helping you […]

May 18, 2021

Grow or Swell… Are You Creating Positive Leadership Goodwill?

Negative or Positive Leadership? Picture it. Eighty-five top managers from a well-known national organization jammed into a meeting room for a one-day leadership retreat. I wanted to get the group involved quickly, so I began with a simple exercise “Think of the best leader you’ve ever known…” I asked them. “…then write down the characteristics […]

Apr 15, 2021

What Abandonment Taught Me About Adaptability & Success

Don’t be caught standing in your own way to achieving success. Abandoned as a child, I learned that adaptability is key to achieving your goals. Here’s why.

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, […]

Mar 2, 2021

Wow Them with Your Weakness

Many leaders still believe in the never let them see you sweat mentality. And there are situations where I’d agree. But, at other times, it could be a leader’s vulnerability that starts the shift toward progress in an organization.

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 26, 2021

Do You Even Know My Name?

If we’re honest, we often find a “people issue” at the root of many of our work problems. Sometimes it’s caused by something as simple as being unable to respond to the question: “Do you even know my name?” If a leader can’t get the answer right, it could be the best place to start. […]

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. […]

Leadership