Entitled “Still Face,” Tronick’s research methodology was insanely simple.

Here’s how author Peg Streep describes it.

A baby is seated facing her mother and the mother is talking, smiling, and making eye contact.

Not surprisingly, the infant responds by vocalizing, smiling back, and pointing at things in the room.

Now here’s where things get interesting.

There’s an old adage that goes, “Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are.” No question about it, this observation is a show-stopper. And perhaps the very best thing about this insight is that it’s absolutely, undeniably, and totally true.

Your superpower is the thing that sets you apart from everyone else. It could be your ability to bring out the best in others. Or it might be your creativity. Maybe it’s your grit, tenacity, and ability to get things done (and done right!). Perhaps it’s your ability to see around corners and identify what the future holds. Whatever it is, rest assured, you have a superpower. 

I think the Beatles had it right. All any of us really needs is love. After all, real love (the kind of love that Leaders of LIGHT possess!) is the one true transformative force that has the power to heal hurts, resolve conflicts, inspire courage, and put the needs of others first.

If you want to be an exceptional leader, you’ll have to come to grips with an indisputable reality. Your energy flows where your attention goes. Said differently, whatever you choose to focus on is where your precious energy will be spent.

It’s been said that meetings are a place where minutes are kept and hours are lost. And for good reason. Not only are most meetings not necessary, but they seem to drag on to the point where, at first, you’re kind of afraid you might die, then you come to the stark realization that you may not. But here’s the interesting thing. Even though everyone seems to share this sentiment, we are spending more time in meetings now than ever before.