Hand, eye, facial, and body gestures can have very different meanings in different countries and cultures. How you sit or greet someone, or the extent to which you should reach out and touch someone, may all be read in different and unexpected ways.

*Pay attention, physically and mentally, to what's happening. *Listen carefully, and note the key words and phrases that people use. *Respond encouragingly to the central message. *Be flexible - prepare to change direction as the other person's thoughts and feelings also change. *Look for cues that you're on target.

"Minding your manners" is all about focusing on how the other person feels, not on how you feel. It's consciously acting in a way that puts other people at ease and makes them feel comfortable.

Focusing our attention on the people around us strengthens our ability to learn, communicate, and get results.

Conscientiousness is the state of being thorough, careful, or vigilant; it implies a desire to do a task well. Conscientiousness is also one trait of the five-factor model of personality, and is manifested in characteristic behaviors such as being efficient, organized, neat, and systematic. It includes such elements as self-discipline, carefulness, thoroughness, self-organization, deliberation (the tendency to think carefully before acting), and need for achievement.

"The best leaders focus on making a positive difference and selling their ideas to decision makers, not on proving how smart or how right they are."

"Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren't always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it."

"Remind yourself every morning when you wake up that each day is a gift and you're bound to make the most of the blessing you've been given. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing is the moment it will start acting like one."

Genuine people know who they are. They are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. They are firmly grounded in reality, and they're truly present in each moment because they're not trying to figure out someone else's agenda or worrying about their own.

Approximately 20% of U.S. companies now offer empathy training to their managers. According to a DDI study cited in the same article, the skills that had the strongest correlation with successful leadership were listening and responding.

Mental strength is not an innate quality bestowed upon a select few. It can be achieved and enjoyed.

Passion truth leadership growth

...choose your attitude and adjust your expectations.

Success doesn't come from movement and activity. It comes from focus-from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively.