Peacemakers Needed.

This past Sunday our family listened to this talk LIVE at our church's semi-annual global conference. 

It was, in my opinion, one of the best and most timely sermons I have ever heard. It was given by 98 year-old Russell Nelson, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is a retired heart surgeon, has perfect pitch, and there's so much more I admire about him that I won't share here. But most of all, he has spent most of his adult life serving others and teaching about our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Regardless of your faith or beliefs, I'm confident you will agree that this was a message we all needed to hear, right now. I know I needed it, and I hope you'll take the time to listen, or relisten, to it. (I just reviewed it a third time: watched it LIVE, reviewed the video the next day, and read it taking notes today). 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng

You Don’t Need to Be “the Boss” to Be a Leader.

Whether you currently consider yourself a leader, or an emerging leader, there are three actions you can take to hone your leadership skills right now and become a highly respected and influential team member.

1. Devote time to daily growth. When we improve our skillset and become a slightly better version of ourselves than we were the day before, we initiate the process of becoming more valuable in terms of what we can offer and the level of impact we can generate.

2. Discover and embrace your personal strengths. While we all have areas we can improve, when it comes to building influence, your advantage will lie in discovering your strengths and using them to the best of your ability.

3. Improve your ability to connect with people. When it comes to leadership, making genuine connections is more advantageous, and anyone — introverts, ambiverts, or extroverts — can learn how to do this. It all comes down to how we communicate, rather than what we communicate. You can practice this skill by being intentional in your interactions with others — be authentic, and empathetic.

https://hbr.org/2023/02/you-dont-need-to-be-the-boss-to-be-a-leader