Here's how you can distinguish exceptional leaders from average ones in Conferences.

Exceptional leaders stand out by their ability to inspire and drive positive change. They not only possess vision clarity but also demonstrate an engaging presence that captivates audiences. Active listening is crucial, allowing them to understand and address the needs of their team. Adaptive communication ensures their message resonates with diverse audiences. Empowering others to reach their full potential creates a collaborative environment. A commitment to continuous improvement showcases their dedication to growth and innovation. Additionally, exceptional leaders exhibit emotional intelligence, resilience, and a genuine passion for their work, making them truly influential figures.

Exceptional leaders look out more for their constituents rather than for themselves. They diversify their thought processes, decision-making, hunt for talents, empower, engage, and get them committed to achieving positive goals. They're always open to criticism, mindful of their public utterances, and consistently sourcing for areas/aspects of positive social change or improvements. Exceptional leaders' most important attributes are being people-oriented and community-engaging. Pointing to research, Giles (2016) surmised that these leaders, amongst others: . Have high ethical standards and provide a safe environment. . Empower individuals to self-organize. . Promote connection and belonging. . Are open to new ideas and experimentation.

Exceptional leaders are blessed with the ability to keep things simple. When the audience understands how to take clear action steps to improve their lives and the lives of others, massive change occurs.

A clear vision is not just a destination - it's a catalyst for growth. What distinguishes exceptional leaders is their ability to not only set a clear vision but also to equip and empower their teams to achieve it. We often say that success is a journey, not a destination. But that journey is only meaningful if it enables our team members to develop their skills, expand their capabilities, and become the leaders they aspire to be. As leaders, our role is to provide the guidance, support, and mentorship that fuels our team's progress and focus. By investing in our people and fostering a culture of growth, we create a movement that goes far beyond achieving a goal - we create a legacy of leaders who will shape the future.

Exceptional leaders stand out by their professional appearance, knowledge of the subject matter, organizational skills, ability to connect the topic to real-life experiences, willingness to keep participants engaged, and approachable.

This insight is critical, since the leader is felt and the group feels responsive to that person’s energy and ability to excite and include all participants!! Areal talent and an art that is recognized by inclusion and purpose —the group is suddenly involved and active!!

A great leader knows how and when to speak up and share their thoughts, and oftentimes they may have to be courageous in order to share thoughts which might make them vulnerable to judgment. Being able to evaluate their audience or team and choose their words appropriately to give their expert opinion with empathy and accuracy is a difficult task, but with the appropriate tone and execution can enable that authentic connection mentioned above.

Something I learned recently is that we can effectively make statements by using questions that lead the listener to share their thoughts and reach the conclusions you might be hoping for on their own. People are more receptive to answers that they come to on their own, and the art of leadership is learning how to guide that inner dialogue without explicitly saying it, which may come off as authoritarian or condescending. Active listening for the leader in training may be synonymous with motivational interviewing, a tangential skill that I believe all leaders should learn.

My background and education in mental health counseling automatically causes me to equate the term “adaptive communication” with the phrase “meeting a client where they are”. In other words, understanding your clients so that you can effectively work with them. In the context of leadership, adaptive communication is crucial for effective messaging, building connections, and inspiring action. Leaders must be able to communicate in a way that resonates with diverse audiences, leveraging emotional intelligence, empathy, and cultural competence. By adapting their communication style, leaders can: -Build trust and credibility -Foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity -Inspire and motivate others -Drive meaningful change and growth

Leadership is about empowering others, not just accumulating power. As leaders, we're responsible for fostering growth, safety, and wellbeing in those we serve. To achieve this, we must delegate effectively, entrust others with responsibilities, and cultivate their independence. By doing so, we not only lighten our own load but also create a ripple effect of empowerment that benefits everyone.

Exceptional leaders hire excellent people and then have the self confidence to let them be the professionals they are. Leaders help people learn, grow, and achieve new heights.

A talented leader has a keen eye for the skills and talents of others. Identifying both gaps in their own skillset, and finding gentle ways to encourage others to use their gifts, makes for a powerful combo to building a well-rounded team.

A Exceptional leader is someone that is not a person that leads from a seated position. He/She is not an individual. They understand the trails and tribulations that every worker is going through because they have been in that same position before, and they are not scared to do that same work again. He/She is someone that can defuse, or problem solve to figure out a solution because they active listing making their employees feel like they have a say into the process.

Leading by example is the gold standard of leadership. I’ve had many leaders in both military and civilian roles and it remains true in either world. You can’t inspire trust and respect if you aren’t leading by example. Ultimately, those beneath you can only be as motivated and dedicated as their leader is. Leaders set the standard, so if an organization has a performance problem, all eyes should be on the behavior of leadership. As we said in the Army, “it” rolls downhill.

If we look around the world at our leaders today , many of them exhibit few if any of the very desirable qualities listed in this post. Take,for example, Putin, who is certainly exceptional. Yet he is vain, paranoid, controlling and hateful. Or Trump who is provocative, insulting, and self-preserving with a pension for disinformation. How is it we idolize leaders and want them to fit a “hero” persona. Let’s admit it, leaders come in all shapes and sizes and what is effective in getting those around one to “follow” varies based on context and culture.