Chris Goede

Leaders who practice how to improve negotiation skills raise performance while strengthening relationships. Progress takes shape when they tune in to what people value and move the conversation forward with calm clarity that invites cooperation. As these skills mature, leaders gain influence that people recognize and trust. Decisions feel fair, momentum holds, and partnerships deepen, elevating the leader’s voice and...

Accountability is a tough word for many leaders because it often gets confused with blame. But true accountability is much deeper than taking the fall when something goes wrong; it’s really about ownership. It’s stepping up, taking responsibility for the outcome from the very beginning, and setting the tone for everyone who follows your lead. Over the years, I’ve found...

When it comes to leadership, most people fall into one of two categories: climbers or connectors.Climbers focus on personal career advancement—the next position, promotion, or win. Connectors, on the other hand, prioritize team development, collaboration, and trust. We can all picture leaders who fit each category. But here’s the real question: Which one are you? If I’m being honest, I...

Leadership communication shapes how people connect and work together. Every word a leader shares influences trust, clarity, and culture. When you understand how you measure communication effectiveness, you begin to see that leadership is reflected in how your message lives within the people who hear it. Even strong communicators can miss how their words land. Knowing whether your communication is...

Prioritizing may not feel like a defining leadership characteristic. Many leaders get caught in the daily rush of managing what’s urgent instead of focusing on what’s truly important. But leadership requires intentionality—especially in how we spend our time and energy. I’m not sharing this as an expert, but as someone still learning. I’ve discovered that success isn’t measured by how...

Let’s imagine for a second that your team at work is on a boat. Some of them are rowing with you toward the goal, but others are sitting with the oars on their laps and phones in hand. And worse, a few might even be in the back working hard to sink the boat completely. The reality is that according...