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Welcome to the first edition of the 1-1 Newsletter.
In each edition, I share one practical idea on leadership and one idea for business presentations—complete with real-world examples of how to apply them.
Let’s get straight to it.
1. Leadership: The Core Purpose of a Leader
The Idea
My all-time favorite leadership concept comes down to understanding the fundamental job of a leader: To increase the performance of the team you lead.
When we think about leadership, it is easy to get sidetracked by things like:
Imposter syndrome or self-confidence
Whether our team or colleagues like us
Our personal strengths and development areas
While those factors matter, the fundamental job—which we must never lose sight of—is to deliver performance through other human beings (done sustainably and ethically, of course).
How to Apply It
Ask yourself one simple reflection question:
"Has the performance of the team I lead increased since I took over the role?"
Context matters: Many external variables (like major market shifts or a pandemic) are out of your control. However, reflecting on this question does two powerful things:
It forces you to define what "good performance" actually means for your team.
It highlights whether performance has moved up or down under your leadership, giving you clear insights into where your leadership journey needs to go next.
2. Business Presentations: Audience-Centric Delivery
The Idea
My #1 golden rule for business presentations is simple: Your presentation is not about you; it is about delivering value for your audience.
When preparing a talk, we often focus on the wrong details:
Managing our personal nerves
Crafting a visually stunning PowerPoint deck
These are secondary. The presenter's primary job is to serve the people in the room.
How to Apply It
When building your next presentation, view your content through your audience's eyes by asking:
What do these people already know?
What do they not know yet?
What specific insights do they need to perform their jobs more effectively?
Bonus perk: Shifting your focus entirely onto how you can help the audience takes the spotlight off yourself—which naturally reduces presentation nerves!