This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:
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7 Proven Steps to Position Yourself as a Leader in Your Organization
- Transform Your Leadership with Powerful Presentations This December
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The Art and Science of Speaking Like a Leader
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Want to Know the Secret to Going Viral?
7 Proven Steps to Position Yourself as a Leader in Your Organization
People naturally gravitate toward those who lead with vision, purpose, and clarity.
But most of us get buried by tasks and meetings that we rarely find the time to think about how we can contribute more and lead better.
I was in this position when I was heading communications at a major airline 14 years ago.
Between 24/7 airline operations and 24/7 media and social media frenzy from dozens of countries, I had no time or energy left to do my own PR.
That cost me dearly when the CEO changed. It wasn’t pretty, and I left shortly after.
You can learn from my experience: By consistently taking intentional, strategic steps, you can position yourself as someone others look to for guidance and inspiration.
These 7 steps show you how to align your actions with the bigger picture, contribute with purpose, and build relationships that will propel you forward.
#1 Position Yourself as a Leader, not a Worker Bee
Like it or not, regardless of rank people put you in 1 of 3 categories: Beginner, Worker Bee, or Leader. Avoid the Worker Bee trap and instead develop a consistent communication style that showcases your expertise and leadership.
#2 Drive High-Impact Projects That Align with Organizational Goals
Seek out and lead projects that directly contribute to your company's strategic priorities. Ask yourself: What Big 3 things can I accomplish this year that will get me noticed and that align with the organization’s big goals.
#3 Learn to Say ‘No’
You need to say ‘no’ a lot to focus on your priorities and to avoid the Worker Bee trap. Only by saying no to almost everything can we create the space to turn our own dreams and projects into reality.
#4 Speak with Influence, Not Just Information
Shift from simply presenting information to driving action. Craft your message to inspire, align teams, and get buy-in for your initiatives. Use storytelling and frameworks to communicate your ideas in ways that resonate and engage.
#5 Increase Your Contribution Score in Meetings
On “Diary of a CEO”*, Steven Bartlett outlined an idea of contribution scores. It is like a credit score, based on all contributions you made in the past. If your previous contributions were valuable, everyone in the room would stop and lean in. Speak up in meetings with clear, data-backed insights, and take initiative in addressing organizational challenges.
#6 Become a Knowledge Hub – Not Just a Specialist
Share your insights regularly through internal workshops, updates, or informal discussions. Position yourself as a resource who has innovative solutions and accelerates the team’s learning curve. Make your knowledge an asset others turn to.
#7 Strategically Build Cross-Department Relationships
Identify key players in different departments and cultivate relationships that will expand your influence. Be the bridge that connects ideas, mentor colleagues, and foster a culture of growth.
#8 Align Every Action with the Bigger Picture
Continuously tie your work and decisions back to the company's mission and long-term strategy. Be vocal about how your contributions are pushing the company closer to its goals, making sure your leadership is recognized as integral to its success.
If you want this as a one-page visual, check out my LinkedIn post here.
OLIVER'S RECOMMENDATION CORNER
Transform Your Leadership with Powerful Presentations This December
December is Presentation Month in the Speak Like a CEO Academy, and it's the perfect time to elevate your communication skills. A powerful presentation is your gateway to influence, impact, and new opportunities.
Why are presentations so critical?
Because in a world flooded with information, the ability to distill complex ideas into clear, persuasive narratives is a key leadership skill. Every professional is judged by how effectively they communicate their ideas, making mastering presentations a game-changer for your career.
This December, we're focusing on presentations in the Academy with a brand-new course on Thought Leadership and an exclusive session on mastering presentation techniques—both led by me.
If you want a free taster, join our last Presentation Secrets Workshop of the year next Friday, December 13th at 1pm CEST.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PODCAST
The Art and Science of Speaking Like a Leader
I do a podcast to help you become a top 1% communicator. Please subscribe on Apple or Spotify.
I was a guest on Leadership at the Edge – the Institute of Leadership’s podcast.
I discuss why communication is the #1 skill for success, how to build an irresistible personal brand, and strategies for overcoming communication challenges in a world increasingly shaped by remote work and AI!
Discover why Richard Branson’s personal brand outshines his company’s, learn how to become "unignorable" in a crowded market, and uncover why your communication skills are more essential than ever in the AI-driven age.
Listen on Spotify and Apple:
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Want to Know the Secret to Going Viral?
Ever wonder what makes some content explode online while others barely get noticed? I recently read The Guide to Going Viral by Brendon Kane, and it completely reshaped the way I think about digital content. If you’re looking to break through the noise and make your content stand out, this book is full of insights worth exploring. Here are a few key takeaways:
- Understand Your Audience: Kane emphasizes that successful viral content starts with deep audience insight—not just demographics but their behaviors and motivations.
- Experiment and Test: Going viral isn’t just about creating the perfect piece of content—it’s about testing different strategies and learning from what works.
- The 3-Second Rule: If you don’t grab your audience’s attention in the first few seconds, they’ll scroll right past you. This simple concept can completely transform how you approach your content.
Fortunately for us, Brendon will be a guest on the Speak Like a CEO podcast soon.
On that note...
Have an inspired weekend,
Oliver
PS: Share this newsletter with your friends & colleagues here.