“One of the most frustrating aspects of human relationships rest in feeling like you have not been heard. No one enjoys the position of voicelessness. Leaders know that one of the wisest, if not the most humbling action they can take is taking the time to have a simple conversation with those they lead.” J Loren Norris

“Mutually assured destruction is sometimes the only deterrent to tyranny. However, a leader willing to metaphorically apply the death star approach should be cautioned about the natural reaction of the poison pill, sabotage and revolt. Some team members will feel betrayed by authority and will inflict as much damage as possible before moving on. Good leaders are aware of this tension and the team members most likely to act.” J Loren Norris

“It is cruel and unscrupulous to manipulate the meaning of a persons words when translating or repeating them. It is vile to do so with ill-intent. To interfere in communication by altering the facial expressions, intonation and emotional state is IMHO down right evil. But we have tools which many see as a game which does exactly that. Leaders must become masters of reality to deal with this new world of AR.” J Loren Norris

“Instructions not properly translated are instructions not properly given. Not amount of emphatic articulation, passion or conviction in verbal delivery or instructions makes up the difference. SHOUTING via text or email will not more clearly convey unclear instructions. Leaders who fail to insure their expectations and instructions are clear, will be leaders who are just as frustrated as the people they lead.” J Loren Norris ​

”The immeasurable worth of deeply held and strongly rooted values is undeniable. Unfortunately such values and those who hold to them are becoming more rare every day. Leaders know their values are essential to leading with legacy. They also know their values are priced out of the market. They are worth more than any pay raise, vacation, career promotion, other social incentives or political pressure. In short, leaders who know their values cannot be bought.” J Loren Norris

”Call it shading, facets, partial representation or any other name you like. Nuance is another word for conveying something other than the whole truth. Employees do it. Politicians do it. Toddlers do it. Attorneys do it. You have likely done it, I know I have. Good leaders understand the power and purpose of nuance all the while aware of its dangers. Be alert. Look closely, listen closer and always ask, what’s the whole, entire, complete truth.” J Loren Norris

“To be confused by language is nothing new. To misunderstand, misinterpret, misconstrue are all human reactions to complicated or emotionally charged conversations. Those who artfully misuse language are doing so with ill intent to confuse and manipulate. Leaders love language and the artful application of it to produce connection, clarity and consensus.” J Loren Norris

“Sometimes the action you see is not what you should be cautious about. It’s not the struggle getting the most attention, the fight turning all the heads, the chaos stopping traffic which is reshaping society. Like a good ‘fight promoter’ the real game is happening in the back room between the power players and power brokers and they really don’t care who survives the scuffle… as long as they remain in power by provoking the scuffle. If you only deal in power, you are a tyrant and not a leader.” J Loren Norris

“Too many people waste time, talent, treasure and attention when they truly believe they are investing. If your investment turns on you and begins to decay in every area you thought it would return increase - it’s time to stop investing. If every $10 you spent with a specific organization gave $5 to someone preparing to do you harm how long would you keep giving them $10?” J Loren Norris

“If you find that people only want to hear your ideas when you scream them or force people to listen by ‘pulling rank’ as a leader, you need to reconsider both your ideas and your approach. Conversation should be a two way street of idea sharing and sharpening. One good test for good ideas would be to ask someone else to present them in your place. If the ideas are better accepted it’s not your ideas that are rejected it’s your communication style. Now you know what you need to fix.” J Loren Norris

​“If your scope of leadership influence does not extend beyond your four walls, you are wasting the tools you have worked so hard to acquire. Rendering help everywhere you can is an unwritten expectation of good humans. I don’t mean inserting yourself where you’re not wanted  or unwelcome but I do mean if you can help DO IT.” J Loren Norris

“My mentor John Maxwell says often ‘You’ve got to give up to go up!’ There is no level of leadership which does not demand sacrifice on the part of the leader. If you want more income, you’ll have to sacrifice time. If you want new strategic relationships, you must sacrifice long term unfruitful relationships. If you want to leave a legacy worthy of your successors you may well sacrifice your own happiness. A great leader must know the limits and be strong enough to resist the temptation to sacrifice core values for wealth and fame.” J Loren Norris

“Leaders who are leading the charge are often out in front the of crowd, taking all the hits of rejection, facing all the obstacle and resistance. These leaders need your moral support, encouragement and assistance. Synergy is a tremendous form of encouragement and we all ways get more of what we reward or incentivize.” J Loren Norris

​“The power of a story or collection of stories (aka narrative) possess incredible value in the war for cultural understanding. From revisionist history, to future casting, from vision drafting to social engineering - stories are the wind which direct the sails in the journey through time. Leaders who are not effective storytellers may be great managers or administrators but they will not be legacy influencers.” J Loren Norris

“The keyboard warrior, mouse jockey, microphone mouth piece who cannot look you in the eye and have the same conversation they do online is not a leader but a coward, not an influencer but a manipulator. The art of communicating face to face requires a diligently applied skill set, much grace and patience. The best comedians, the legacy orators and the leaders who make the greatest impact are equally or more persuasive when face to face than when they are in front of the mic and camera in isolation.” J Loren Norris

“Just because you have the right to free speech or permission to speak freely does not mean you are required to speak. If your emotions, opinions, ideologies are not widely accepted or conducive to productive relationships silence may be the better option. As the old saying goes, it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” J Loren Norris

“The greatest feature of StoryPower is knowing the technique required to select the proper story to tell for the moment. The wrong story means the wrong illustration, the wrong analogy, the wrong emotional state, the wrong connection and the wrong connection. StoryPower MasterClass is all about teaching and demonstrating this art form of leadership communication development.” J Loren Norris

“Anyone can complain, whine or gripe. That is not the role of a good leader. A good leader goes further than realizing there is a problem and pointing it out. They will also identify the difference between the symptoms and the cause then also provide a recommended solution. Dale Carnegie says, ‘Never criticize, condemn or complain.’ Take the time to offer ways things could be done better!” J Loren Norris

​“A leader who is filled with new ideas, innovative notions, futuristic concepts and an appetite for risk is a leader who is hard to follow. They will leadoff in directions unpredictable and untraceable. They are hard to lead because they don’t always follow the rules, conventions or status quo. However, their minds are like mining for gold, lots of work will precede a massive payoff if you learn how to lead them well.” J Loren Norris

​“Many people fail to thrive because they allow the unqualified opinions of others to sway their belief about themselves. The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we others about ourselves shape what we believe to be true about us. The stories others tell about us - that’s our brand. As leaders we must manage the narrative at home, at work and at large for ourselves and our team.” J Loren Norris

“A good leader knows the power of a poker face! The ability to hear, see, know, understand and still keep your opinion a secret is a great tool for leadership. Not everything a leader thinks should be expressed. Not every stoic emotional response means IDK. When observing a team or a crowd, be willing to ask and answer questions of those who appear to be least engaged. They may very well know more than they say.” J Loren Norris.

​“When the ‘cause dejour’ drives the passions of your team, the power behind your core values might be challenged. The ability to maintain the focus on the cause of your organization requires awareness, devotion and intention. Leaders must know the difference and stand their ground to direct the passions of those they lead.” J Loren Norris.