“You Made First Class!”
HOW LEADERS MAKE YOU FEEL
After years of flying around the country and speaking to leaders and teams, I still get a good feeling when I learn I’ve been upgraded to first class. Most recently, upon hearing I’ve been moved from premium seating to first class, I comfortably settled into my seat next to the airline pilot, heading home after a long week of travels and work. We struck up a conversation and he immediately took an interest in what I did professionally, even my family passions, and new golf techniques.
Nearing the end of the flight, it occurred to me, that not only was I seated in first class– he made me feel first class! I’ve noted that the best leaders and best people make you feel special, important, unique, valued, gifted, and FIRST CLASS.
We call them “soft skills” but they’re anything but soft: empathy, vulnerability, kindness, listening, compassion, emotional regulation, self-control. These are hard-edge leadership skills that play an essential role in your personal and professional triumphs.
The Harvard Business Review reported that companies that prioritize emotional intelligence and “soft skills” training witness a substantial return on investment, with a 256% increase in overall performance, team morale, and cooperation.
Developing First class skills is an art of intentionality where every interaction, conversation, word, and gesture constitutes a brush stroke on the canvas of your professional influence, impact, and reputation.
Here’s a visual reminder of shifting from hard skill focus to soft skill, first class focus:
Workplaces can unlock a limitless world of possibilities as we focus on what actually matters most today, making others feel first-class and building first-class teams!
Here’s to upgrading your leadership!
–Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
To book Steve today, contact Michelle Joyce!
(For information on keynote presentations, team workshops, and one on one coaching.)
“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.
A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
