Start with curiosity. Ask about their leadership journey, their hopes, their concerns. Learn what is important to them about “the work” and how to best do that work together.

Let’s start with what it isn’t.

It isn’t kissing up. That’s a short term, self-serving and cheap strategy for connecting and getting something you want. Whatever you get from that, you won’t want for very long.

Are you managing change or leading it?

As a leader, talk as much, and only as much, as you’re listening.

That way, your words are relevant to people and ‘speak’ directly to what they need to hear, rather than to what you want to say.

Leave the managing of process to your team

What do you do when you receive feedback you disagree with?