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Leadership isn’t just a theory, it’s an action. You take action and you empower others to take action.

Richard Rierson has over 25 years of real world, practical leadership experience as a United States Marine Corps Officer, Corporate Executive, Professional Aviator, Entrepreneur, and host of Dose of Leadership. Richard is manically passionate about leadership. And in his interview on my leadership podcast, you get an special dose of leadership. 

There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

This is certainly a truism in leadership.

President Reagan gave me the gift of a lifetime—the opportunity to start my professional career in his post-presidential office. In President Reagan’s post-Presidential office I had a front row seat to history. More importantly I learned what real leadership looks like, behind the scenes. Politics aside, President Reagan was one of the most gifted leaders the world has known in a generation. 

You want to be a legacy leader—a leader of real influence—then beware of protocol and pyramids.

Do you refuse to be wrong? Do you get a lump in your throat, slightly sweaty palms, or assume a certain pious, entitled disposition at the very mention of admitting you're wrong?

Honestly think about it . . .

During my keynote speeches and leadership workshops, I coach CEOs and leaders at all levels through a tool called The Quiggle Assessment. There are a handful of dimensions to this tool though one reason I use The Quiggle Assessment is help leaders communicate with immediate impact.

The root cause of CEO Disease is a lack of self-awareness.

While in the White House, President Reagan obviously had a Presidential Cabinet: Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Education, etc.

In addition to his Presidential Cabinet, President Reagan had what he affectionately called his Kitchen Cabinet. His Kitchen Cabinet was a group of friends and advisers he counted on for three things:

As you ascend the leadership ladder and grow in leadership influence, the tendency is to become less and less self-aware. This tendency doesn’t make you a bad human—it just makes you, well, human. Period.

To be an effective leader—to lead with purpose, direction, and optimism—you have to fight the tendency to devolve in self-awareness.