Matthew Kohut

I think that's really where this is most important is you need to be willing to spend time just listening and not coming in with a point of view about something you don't know or haven't experienced in your own lived.

You don't have the lived experience to understand what other people are going through.

So that's a huge part of it.

But then I also think being values driven.

is really critical here.

So you know what the North Star is for your organization, you know why you do what you do, and you can articulate a position based in values.

Now, values can sound to some people like some sort of feel good thing, but to me, it's actually much more important than that.

It's really the thing that allows you to say, this is why we do what we do.

And then the cherry on top for me, and this is where I think you really separate the good from the great, is the great leader, if they're taking a position on something that's political or social, isn't just saying something.

They're actually going to put their money where their mouth is.

And they're going to have some accountability steps for the organization.

The organization is going to put their weight behind something, or they're going to do something differently as a result of this.

And not every issue lends itself to that, but when that is something that is...

part of the profile of the issue, either you do something or why bother saying anything at all?

Otherwise it's just, it's PR.

Well, I think it's everything.

I mean, ultimately, you stand behind what you say.

And if people don't see that you do what you say or that you're going to follow through, then ultimately your brand as a leader becomes hollow.

Because it's one thing for you to say something, but then if you're always sort of whisked away onto the next thing and they don't see the follow through, then you lose credibility.

And it really comes down to that.