Are you a "SAGE Leader"? - blog

Are you a SAGE LEADER?

You might be sitting there thinking, “I don’t know… Am I? And what’s a Sage Leader, anyway?”

That was my reaction when I first heard the term. Are we talking about a plant? Is this about archetypes?

Image by Melpomenem from Getty Images

Have no fear!
Answers await!

When it comes to SAGE LEADERSHIP, there’s no better person to talk to than Angie Alexander.

Angie is an Executive Coach and Certified Mental Fitness Coach with expertise in organizational effectiveness, facilitation, decision analysis, process design & improvement, change management and project management.

Angie Alexander

Her people skills are her superpower, but as a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in Western Canada’s oil and gas industry, she is equally at home in the technical world.

Lately, Angie has been coaching executives on how to become SAGE LEADERS.

That sure sounds like something I’d like to become!
I’m in.

In this week’s Talk About Talk episode, you’ll get to hear my conversation with Angie about how to communicate as a Sage Leader. In this episode you’ll learn:

the definition of SAGE LEADERSHIP
the COMMUNICATION SKILLS that set Sage leaders apart
how to develop MENTAL FITNESS and counteract your “SABOTEURS“

LOVE that word… “SABOTEURS”

First things first: What is a SAGE LEADER?

Image by Evgeny Karandaev from Canva

No, not THAT kind of sage!

As Angie tells us, the “Sage” in Sage Leader is your inner essence, the true self you have been since you were a child – someone that is open, curious, and empathetic.

Sage Leaders excel with these skills:

1️⃣ SAGE LEADERS LISTEN

They are curious, open, and have a growth mindset.
They ask genuine questions, are transparent, and allow themselves to be vulnerable.
They talk less and listen more.

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2️⃣ SAGE LEADERS ARE INCLUSIVE

They use the language of “WE” and “US” instead of “I” and “YOU.”
They are empathetic, and don’t assume that everyone communicates or learns in the same way.
They create environments that are psychologically safe, and encourage sharing unique perspectives.

3️⃣ SAGE LEADERS DEVELOP THEIR MENTAL FITNESS

They focus on their inner essence and their true self.
They work hard to recognize the saboteurs that hold them back, like impostor syndrome or the crow on the shoulder.
They acknowledge their saboteurs and learn to excel.

Talk Less, Listen More: COMMUNICATING as a Sage Leader

What comes to mind when you think about what it means to be a COMMUNICATOR?

Most of us equate COMMUNICATION with projecting. Talking. Being the encoder.

It turns out that the most effective communicators are exceptional listeners. They are empathetic. They decode.

How can we communicate as Sage Leaders?

1️⃣ Understand Your Audience

Think about who you’re communicating with and how you might engage with them more meaningfully, rather than just talking to (or at) them.

2️⃣ Recognize Different Communication Styles

What works best for you may not work best for your audience. Sage Leaders know that their own communication style is not universal, and will use a variety of media (like podcasts or visuals), depending on how their audience consumes information.

3️⃣ Embrace Vulnerability

Sage Leaders know that being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness, nor is it about oversharing. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable as a leader lets others know that it is safe for them to share ideas or step outside of their comfort zone.

4️⃣ Practice Collaborative Listening

Sage leaders work together with other people to come up with something that neither one of them would have thought of on their own. This is what happens when you truly listen, when you are open and curious, and when you ask genuine and thoughtful questions.

That’s it for this week! A big THANK YOU to Angie Alexander for this wonderful conversation, and for teaching me all about Sage Leadership.

Enjoy the podcast!

Please forward this to your friends who might like help with their communication skills. Thank you.

Have a great week.

Talk soon,