“The best leaders are great because of the way they think. Extraordinary leaders separate themselves by the way they communicate what they are thinking. They have, the ‘Universal Edge,’ in that they understand their audience, and know how to make a connection.” -Doyle Slayton

Four Disciplines of Extraordinary Leaders:

1. Read Books - Read at least one book per month. You will be amazed by the impact this will make on your communication skills and your ability to generate new thoughts and ideas!

2. Carry a book of BIG Ideas – Every time you have an idea, write it down. Big or small, write it down. Once it’s written down, you don’t have to work to remember it. Your brain can relax and move on to creating new ideas!

3. Conversation Mapping – One of my mentors taught me to “have the conversation before you have the conversation.” Map out the conversation in your mind, and think of every possible response. “If I say this, what are the possible responses?… and how would I respond to each of those responses?”

4. Self-Reflection – Usually on my drive home from work, my mind begins to reflect on my daily conversations and interactions. I think about the impact my thoughts, words, and behaviors made on the people around me. What did I do well? What will I do next time to make it even better? Are there issues where I might need to see things from a different perspective?

What are you doing to elevate your thinking? What steps are you taking to communicate more effectively?
By Doyle Slayton

Doyle Slayton, Executive Director & Sales Strategist at http://www.SalesBlogcast.com

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