This document outlines the S.A.L.T. principle for cultivating leadership. S.A.L.T. stands for Sound, Act, Look, Think. The document provides tips for how to sound like a leader through effective communication skills. It suggests how to act like a leader by maintaining composure, leading with integrity, and demonstrating emotional intelligence. It advises looking like a leader through professional attire, body language, and appearance. Finally, it discusses thinking like a leader by taking a strategic mindset, setting ambitious goals, and focusing on developing others. The document encourages readers to practice the S.A.L.T. principle in order to become a leader.

1. HCA Leadership Seminar #2
The S.A.L.T. Principle
A Recipe for Cultivating Leadership

2. The S.A.L.T. Principle
Consider this age old question:
Can great leaders learn how to lead or must they be
born leaders?
•It is incumbent upon YOU to cultivate your natural
leadership qualities and to develop new ones.
•Others may help to guide but, ultimately, you are the
steward of your own career so take an active role in shaping
and managing it .
•Practice the S.A.L.T. principle because it’s been my
personal secret ingredient for success.

3. The S.A.L.T. Principle
So, what is it?
Sound
Act
Look
Think … like a leader and you
will become one!

4. Sound Like a Leader
•Be concise yet descriptive enough to convey your thoughts
properly.
•Decision-makers have limited time – brevity is bliss.
•Beef up your vocabulary and know when to impress with
snazzy vernacular and when to just use plain English.
•Plan what you’re going to say before saying it.
SOUND – Being articulate and commanding
the room with your voice.

5. Sound Like a Leader
•Remember that communication is best when dialogue vs.
monologue is fostered – if you find that your voice is the
only one you can hear in a conversation there’s a problem.
•You need to actively listen as well as you speak.
•Speak authoritatively – people expect leaders to know what
they’re talking about.
•Assess the engagement level of your audience and adjust
your message accordingly.
•Certain topics should always be off the table.

6. Sound Like a Leader
•Use inflection and vary the pitch and tone in your voice to
make people take notice of what you’re saying.
•Punch the key words in every sentence to add emphasis.
•Raise and lower your volume.
•Inject well-placed pauses and vary your pace.
Keys to being a dynamic speaker:

7. Sound Like a Leader
•Stay current about the world in which you do business.
Learn more about it and incorporate the information into
your conversations.
•You are your own spokesperson.
•If you sound like a leader people will talk
to you like one.

8. Act Like a Leader
•Maintain your composure and do not let it waiver –
especially under adversity.
•Remember … it is always just business, never personal.
•Be steadfast in all that you do - you will be measured as a
leader by the consistency of your actions.
•Model the right behavior – observe the SES members or
Flag Officers in your meetings and carry yourself in similar
fashion.
ACT – Exuding confidence, behaving with
noble intent, and inspiring trust through
integrity.

9. Act Like a Leader
•Believe in yourself and your own abilities - rely on your
knowledge and experience to demonstrate competence.
•Know what your own personal tenets and principals are
and do not deviate from, or compromise, them - set an
example for others to follow.
•Maintain a high level of emotional intelligence.
•Always give the credit to others and assign the blame to
yourself.

10. Act Like a Leader
•As a leader you will have to influence, persuade and
negotiate with others - this cannot be done without
establishing your credibility first.
•Cockiness is not the same as confidence!
•If you act like a leader people will treat
you like one.

11. Look Like a Leader
• They say the clothes make the man/woman – not exactly,
but they do help so strive to look sharp at all times so
that you can be the most memorable person in the room.
• Get the right fight because people notice when you don’t.
• Flatter yourself. Choose clothes that complement you.
• Shoes are important - replace scuffed and worn shoes
because it shows attention to detail.
• I still polish mine before big meetings …
LOOK – Dressing for success and fitting
the role.

12. Look Like a Leader
•Spend a little more for quality when you can and avoid
flashy and distracting accessories.
•There’s a time for business casual and there’s a time for
business formal - be office appropriate (e.g., meetings with
external individuals and high-level internal individuals are
always occasions for more formal attire.)
•When suits get shiny it’s time to replace them - you’re
investing in yourself.
•Be sensible on business casual days (e.g., save the flip
flops for the beach!)

13. Look Like a Leader
•Body language is of the utmost importance and your non-
verbal cues speak volumes.
•Posture matters – when you slump, slouch or fidget it
makes you appear uninterested and as a leader that should
be far from the truth.
•Hold your head up and maintain eye contact at least 80%
of the time during a conversation.
•Make sure you maintain openness – crossing your arms or
letting your body retreat into itself signals that you are
”closed” and your people will react accordingly.

14. Look Like a Leader
•Avoid excessive hand gestures and try to ”steeple” to
demonstrate engagement and confidence.
•Be attentive at all times because people notice when you
are not and that’s not leader-like.
•If you look like a leader people will view
you like one.

15. Think Like a Leader
•Look for the big picture and think several steps ahead.
•Learn to separate fact from opinion.
•Distill complex scenarios into simpler terms so that you can
express them appropriately and develop solutions
accordingly.
•Consider the greater good in all that you do – it is
impossible to satisfy or please everyone so focus on
benefitting the many vs. the few.
Think – Having a strategic mindset and
focusing on the purposeful.

16. Think Like a Leader
•Be extremely judicious with your mental energy.
•Set big goals and only be 60% sure that you can actually
achieve them – because fear of failure sparks a fire!
•Create a vision, determine how you will achieve it and go
about implementing it systematically with earnest.
•Think beyond yourself. If you’re not developing others to
take your place you’re not doing your job.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing
yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about
growing others.” -Jack Welch

17. Think Like a Leader
•Don’t be afraid to make informed decisions – leaders are
required to be courageous by putting skin in the game.
•Never settle for status quo – always challenge
conventional thinking!
•If you think like a leader people will think
that you are one.

18. The S.A.L.T. Principle
Humor me … here’s a quick history lesson.
In Ancient Rome, soldiers were
sometimes paid in salt.
Are you worth your S.A.L.T.?

19. Thank you!