Matt Altman

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Being a great leader doesn’t necessarily mean being the loudest one in the room. When many people think of great leaders, they may think about the way they were able to command a room or take decisive action amid chaos or struggle. And while these traits are certainly worth highlighting, there are also other, more underrated qualities that can make leaders truly great.  Here, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council draw on their own experiences as business leaders to spotlight nine qualities they believe are vital to becoming an effective, efficient and well-respected leader. Whether you’re currently leading a team or are just looking to grow as a professional, consider their advice for how to cultivate some of these key leadership qualities.

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Presenting your business to an audience can feel intimidating, but the right mindset and preparation can make all the difference. Whether you're delivering a keynote speech, joining a panel or meeting potential clients face-to-face, confidence when speaking isn't necessarily something you're born with — it's something you build. And when you understand your audience, believe in your message and allow your passion to guide you, your delivery becomes more natural and impactful. To help you improve, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share their top tips for becoming a more engaging and self-assured speaker in any setting. From leaning into your passion to mastering your elevator pitch, these insights can help you connect authentically and speak with greater impact.

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If you want to convince someone to buy from you, first you have to understand the value you’re offering. When you run a business in a creative industry, it might not always be clear how to monetize your work. Whether you’re an independent artist, a freelance creator or any other form of solopreneur, one of the first steps on your road to success is managing to land your first sale — and that can be a tricky endeavor on your own. Having each worked in the culture space for some time, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council know what it takes to run successful businesses in creative industries. Here, they weigh in with words of wisdom for aspiring or current entrepreneurs on how to land that elusive first sale, and what it takes to keep your business going even after you’ve earned your first customer.

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When you're managing a distributed team, a little intention goes a long way. Both remote and hybrid work environments have proven to be smart solutions for those companies looking to give their employees greater freedom and control over their work-life balance. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t come with their own set of cons. Relationship-building and peer-to-peer connections, while certainly possible, can be more challenging for remote and hybrid teams who aren’t physically in the same place at once. This can leave some employees feeling isolated if there is no plan to address it. Thankfully, managers can utilize plenty of strategies, tips and tricks to keep their teams connected and communicating well. With the recent surge in popularity for remote and hybrid workspaces, the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council have become well-acquainted with these strategies. Below, they discuss their top tips for those struggling to manage their teams in a hybrid or remote workplace and share how to connect with and manage employees well in these types of environments.

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If your employees feel uncertain about how AI will impact their roles, here's how to frame communications to alleviate their concerns. In the last few years, AI has taken off in unexpected ways that have changed the way today's workforce operates. As a result, the fear of automation replacing tasks or entire jobs has become common among employees.  However, automation doesn't remove the need for the human touch — and, in fact, can be used to support employees in their day-to-day workflows. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share reassuring messages that can help calm employees navigating these changes. With the right communications, employees can view AI not as a threat but as a tool to advance their careers and embrace new possibilities.

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These strategies can make it easier to break through productivity blocks and accomplish more during your workday. With the constant barrage of emails, meetings and distractions, finding real focus and productivity in your workday can be challenging. Many professionals struggle to maintain momentum long enough to finish a project. However, the right techniques can help boost concentration and productivity on even the busiest of workdays. Here, 15 Rolling Stone Culture Council members share their favorite techniques for staying on track and explain why these strategies work so well in a busy work environment. From using time-blocking methods to taking strategic breaks, these tactics can help boost focus and efficiency, even when you're in a productivity slump.