Have you ever struggled to communicate with someone who spoke a different language? Did you perhaps end up raising your voice, hoping to make yourself understood? Chances are it didn’t help get your point across. It’s the same with working styles. When faced with someone who’s different, turning up the volume on what’s most comfortable for you won’t get you very far. Worse, if you’re dealing with a whole team of people, the problems with that approach are amplified. Hear more in this special audio preview of Deloitte’s new book, "Business Chemistry®: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships."

Inspiration comes in many forms. That’s especially true in the C-suite, where leaders need to be flexible, agile, engaged, and objective in order to be truly effective at their jobs. Or, to put it in the words of Steve Schloss, Chief People Officer of the United States Golf Association (USGA), leaders need to master the four disciplines of conscious leadership, connected leadership, informed leadership, and influential leadership. We continue our two-part conversation with Schloss, who shares his insights on “Inspired Leadership.” 

“As I evolved my own personal style, I also learned that you can’t grow without taking risks based upon your own level of risk tolerance and… that the true meaning of leading a global effort is understanding what it means to be truly cross-culturally competent.”

Effective leaders are big, bold, outspoken individuals, who inspire confidence and loyalty through the sheer force of their dynamic personalities. Or, are they?

In this week’s Confessions podcast, “Flexing for Success,” we talk to Steve Schloss, Chief People Officer of the United States Golf Association (USGA), about the leadership skills that introverts bring to the table, and why they shouldn’t be overlooked because of their more reserved personalities.

“I’ve often said to people that if you want applause, you can talk all you want, but if you want results, you have to listen.”