Page 75 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF HILLARY CLINTON

and that she could let her true self come out. Her comeback
to David Letterman made the audience roar with laughter,
and Hillary said in her own words that she actually had a
good time. That one TV talk show created a surprising
shift in how many people viewed her, which was as more
of the human and fun-loving person that she is.
While you and I may not want to shed tears in public,
being able to connect with others by sharing our authentic
thoughts and feelings, as well as our personal stories,
improves and deepens our relationships, enabling us to gain
the respect and trust of others. The key is knowing that
there is a time and place to be expressive, and then giving
yourself permission to share a piece of who you are by
reflecting your heartfelt feelings about a situation or about
yourself.
When I coach leaders on ways to engage with their
employees, particularly during hard or challenging times, I
always recommend that they first relay their own personal
sadness, vulnerabilities, and fears. Once people know this
part of who you are and your own feelings, they are more
willing and able to connect with you, see you as a real per-
son, and end up having a greater level of respect and sup-
port for you. This also builds a level of trust and a common
bond that can go a long way. It creates a level of trans-
parency that people appreciate and can connect with. In
summary, you need to balance your intellect and logic with
emotion. It’s all about letting people know that you are

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