The Three Superpowers of Great Leaders

Today I’m fusing three seemingly different books into one idea: great leaders share three superpowers—and none of them involve capes. 😊

Oscar Trimboli and his book "How To Listen" taught me that we need to strengthen our Listening Muscles. Listen so well you hear what isn’t said, because deep, active listening isn’t just about words, it’s about what lives between them. Great leaders don't wait for their turn to speak, they yearn to listen.

Chuck Klosterman wrote a book called "But What If We're Wrong? Thinking About The Present As If It Were The Past" and it taught me to question every “obvious truth” like you just landed from another planet, because today’s certainty might be tomorrow’s blind spot. Be open to the inquiry, the challenge of your "great idea." Remember that every “obvious” truth is shaped by the lens of its time, and that truly great leaders challenge their own assumptions.

Marshall Goldsmith's book "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" taught me to let go of the habits that got you here if they won’t get you there, because evolving beats clinging to what once worked. Great leaders remember that the very habits that made you successful may be the ones holding you back from what’s next.

The best leaders exercise these three muscles as often as possible:
- Listen to hear what’s not said
- Learn to doubt what you “know”
- Ditch those habits that keep you stuck

Do all three and you’re not just responding to the world as it is, you’re shaping what it becomes.

TWO questions for you today:
Which of these superpowers do you most need to strengthen right now?
and
Which is harder for you right now—listening without agenda, questioning your own certainty, or letting go of what once worked?