How Great Leaders Think: Simple Steps to Build Trust and a Strong Team Culture

By Dorian Cunion and Suzzanne Currier

Being a great leader doesn't just happen; it takes planning and effort. Top business leaders know that for their organization to be successful, they have to build a strong organizational culture and invest in developing talent. 

Members of the local Virginia chapter of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), recently had the opportunity to attend an Executive Leadership Series lunch at Regent University, where ICF Virginia was also a sponsor.

Great Leaders Inspire Other Leaders

“The Executive Leadership Series exists to inspire business leaders and build community,” explained Regent University Chancellor Gordon Robertson. “Through these distinctive events, we seek to provide a gathering place where Hampton Roads’ most respected leaders gain world-class insights from leading experts, combined with exclusive networking opportunities.” 

ICF Virginia is a sponsor of the Executive Leadership Series because it is “an investment in leadership development for Hampton Roads, to empower networking, as well as to create more awareness of the value of coaching to grow leaders, which our membership provides.” Says Suzanne Currier, PCC president of ICF Virginia.

During lunch, a leadership panel of top Hampton Roads business leaders shared insights and lessons on leading a successful organization. The panel included Robert Aston Jr. (CEO, TowneBank), Michael Creedon, Jr. (CEO, Dollar Tree), Dennis Matheis (CEO, Sentara), Edith White (CEO. Hampton Roads Community Action Program), and Gordon Robertson (CEO, Christian Broadcast Network). Hon. Robert MacDonald facilitated the panel.

We've broken down what we learned at this event into actionable tactics leaders can implement immediately to drive higher levels of employee engagement, trust, and business growth.

1. Trust and Being Real Are Key

Great team performance is built on strong trust. If people don't trust the leadership, plans fall apart and teamwork stops.

• It Starts with Trust (Robert Aston Jr.): The most important job of a leader is to build trust. This means you must be reliable, reachable, and responsible (Edith White). 

• Being Real (Authentic) is Crucial (Michael Creedon): Leaders must first know their values and then always act based on those values. When you are authentic, people know what to expect, and trust is easy to build. 

2. Lead by Serving Your Team

Exceptional leadership means changing your mindset: stop just managing tasks and start serving the people who do the work.

• You Work for Your Employees (Dennis Matheis): A leader’s job is to remove problems and provide tools so the team can do their jobs well. As a leader, you are there to support the people who work for the customer.

• Invest in Careers, Not Just Jobs (Michael Creedon): True leadership helps team members achieve their life goals (Robert Aston Jr.). This strong commitment builds loyalty and helps retain great people, thereby directly improving team culture.

3. Plan the Future and Learn from Mistakes

One of a leader's jobs is to envision the company's future. This takes focused time and a thoughtful approach to risk.

• Vision Needs Planning Time (Gordon Robertson): A leader’s time should be spent thinking about the future, not managing today’s problems. You must make time just for strategic thought and planning.

• Make it Okay to Fail (Gordon Robertson): Leaders must create a place where it is safe to fail and mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn. This means leadership needs to take risks and learn quickly (Dennis Matheis).

4. Invest in Growth and Fun Surprises

To create a loyal, high-performing team, you need to invest in your people’s growth and well-being every day.

• The Power of the Unexpected (Robert Aston Jr.): What special things are you doing for your team that they don't expect? These thoughtful gestures build deep loyalty.

• Provide Practical Help and Chances to Grow (Edith White): Leadership is teaching. It is the job of current leaders to provide both practical advice and formal leadership training to people just starting.

Coaching: A Path to Your Leadership Style

Having a winning culture starts with a clear, authentic way of leading. These local Virginia leaders provided practical guidance to help leaders evolve, learn, and grow. If you are an executive or emerging leader who is looking to craft your own leadership style, consider working with an ICF coach. The ICF credentialed coaches pledge to abide by a code of ethics, have undergone extensive training and mentorship, and are here to help you tap into your potential. Learn more by visiting our website.

Stop Overwhelm. Start Impact. The Proven Strategy to Hit Aggressive 2026 Goals with Fulfillment

Are you a leader who is already working hard, yet still feels overwhelmed? Overcommitment is a common challenge for high-performing individuals. You set goals, achieve wins, but you still feel incomplete. The problem is not your character or your effort. The problem lies in how you approach work, set goals, and manage your thoughts. If you are seeking greater fulfillment, you must begin by reassessing your relationship with work and your relationship with yourself.

At Your Path Coaching and Consulting, we understand that finding fulfillment doesn't require self-sacrifice. It requires a fundamental shift in how you set goals and priorities.

The Hidden Drain: Why Hard Work Isn't Enough

As a high achiever, you likely already have habits around goal setting. But if you fail to address the "why" and "how" of your daily work, you create a "fulfillment gap." This gap leaves you with professional success but drains your capacity, leaving you feeling stressed.

Our holistic approach can help to close some gaps. We encourage clients to move beyond setting short-term goals to thinking long-term and ensuring that the steps you take now, are towards the future you aspire to make.

The 3 Shifts Strategic Leaders Make for High-Impact 2026 Goals

The clients we work with who report the highest levels of fulfillment master these three habits.

1. Silence Your Internal Saboteurs: Do you recognize the internal "critics" that constantly generate stress and block your potential? It is essential to learn how to listen to this critic, gain insight, but not to allow it to prevent you from achieving your goals.

2. Craft a Dual-Focused Strategy: Aggressive goals demand capacity, but you can’t generate capacity by focusing only on work. To achieve your professional goals, you must have a plan for relaxing and recharging when you are not at work.

3. Master Delegated Leadership: Hitting huge goals means maximizing leverage. Leaders who embody the principles of the Power6 Leaders Program report greater ease in working with others, delegating tasks, and navigating the challenges and opportunities of leadership.

   
   

ACT NOW: Find Fulfillment and Hit Your 2026 Targets

Stop letting overwhelm dictate your results. Make 2026 the year you achieve extraordinary impact and personal satisfaction.

Purchase our 90-minute workshop on "Finding Fulfillment at Work in 2026." 

Get Clarity, Skip Overwhelm. The price is only $50, and it comes with a Finding Fulfillment workbook. Follow this link to get your copy.

https://yourpath.myflodesk.com/ini75ft1yi

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P.S. Ready for 1:1 guidance? Schedule a free consultation today to discuss how our Executive Coaching or Business Consulting services can help you achieve your 2026 goals.

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The 3 Power Moves To Use LinkedIn More Effectively

The modern job search is not a passive activity. It is a strategic campaign. If your current LinkedIn strategy consists only of uploading a resume and clicking 'Apply,' you are missing the platform's true power. LinkedIn is not just a digital resume; it is the world's largest professional networking platform. The market is increasingly focused on what you can do (your skills) rather than just where you've been (your title).

To transition from a hopeful applicant to a highly visible candidate, you must shift your mindset from merely browsing to building. Success comes to those who engage with intent.

Here is a direct, actionable, and essential guide to activating your LinkedIn job search right now, drawing inspiration from high-engagement career strategies:

1. Own Your Narrative on LinkedIn

In the age of AI-powered recruitment, your visibility depends on how well you communicate your value. Recruiters are using skills-based searches, so your profile and activity must clearly demonstrate that you are a valuable contributor to your field. Here are some tips we provide our career coaching and business coaching clients.

• Create Value Through Content: Challenge yourself to make a post about a key takeaway from industry news, a webinar, or a professional development session you attended. Posting regularly, even just once a week, establishes your intellectual curiosity and personal brand.

• Optimize for ATS and Recruiters: Ensure your profile summary and experience section are keyword-optimized for your target industry. Your profile is your 24/7 pitch deck, and keywords help the algorithm find you more easily.

• The Completed Profile is Your Sales Deck: Ensure your experience section highlights verifiable accomplishments. Profiles with multiple skill endorsements receive significantly more recruiter views.

Example of a well-developed LinkedIn profile

2. Move from Passive Scroller to Active Networker

The path to your next role is often through people, not algorithms. Don't wait for recruiters to find you; identify and connect with the professionals who can help shape your future.

• Connect with Intent: Make a habit of connecting with people after professional events or conversations. Focus on quality over quantity. Send a personalized connection request, mentioning the opportunity to set up a 15-minute discussion.

• Leverage Groups: Join one LinkedIn group relevant to your industry, target role, or alma mater. These groups offer you the opportunity to connect with others who share your interests. Don't just join the group. Post, comment, and request to connect with others in the group.

• Engage for Visibility: Like, comment, and share content from the people and companies you follow. When you comment thoughtfully on a post by a hiring manager or a company's CEO, your name and profile are instantly placed in their immediate professional circle.

Join conversations related to topics that interest you.

3. Research is Your Edge: Identify the Opportunity

The most successful job seekers are also the best researchers. They know where the opportunities are before they are even widely advertised.

• Target Your Companies: Actively search LinkedIn for companies that are currently offering internships or full-time opportunities in your desired location. Look for signals of growth, such as frequent announcements about new locations or initiatives.

• Analyze the Hiring Manager: Before applying, look at the profile of the person who posted the job or the likely hiring manager. What is their background? What are they posting about? This can inform how you prepare for an interview.

• Prioritize New Hiring Trends: Be aware that remote work has become increasingly challenging. While a remote job might be your dream, you may need to build your resume to qualify for those opportunities.

Your job search requires deliberate action. By moving beyond the basics and incorporating these active, engagement-focused strategies—networking, posting, and researching—you immediately elevate your candidacy.

Stop waiting for opportunities to find you. Activate your search today and start building the path to your next professional success.