Leadership is emotional, not just transactional. But most books about leadership overlook the value of the impression you make as a leader. How do leaders sound? What do leaders say and not say? How do leaders tell stories, send emails, run meetings (especially virtual meetings), give speeches, conduct interviews, and even listen to others? While you are undoubtedly empathic, optimistic, visionary, responsive, authentic, supportive, creative, and of course humble, it's not enough to just be that way. You have to be able to communicate these qualities.

Drawing on his experiences as a leadership coach, as well as his personal experience holding senior positions at Time Inc., Audible, PBS, MTV, and the ASPCA, Joel Schwartzberg offers tips and takeaway on topics like going from merely informing to genuinely inspiring, understanding the three kinds of persuasion, making the best use of the strategic pause, and many more. Understanding your leadership impression is vitally important: it is the first piece of evidence on which you and your ideas will be judged and your best chance to lay a foundation of confidence, competence, and commitment.