Leaders who impact me most are the ones who are comfortable in their own skin.  This is not the same as charisma.  Nor is it the same as being authoritative. (Although you can have both and be comfortable in your own skin as well.) It is that feeling of transparency, authenticity, realness–being one of us ("us" as in part of the human species).  

The paradox?  The higher up you go in an organization or society, the harder it is to be one of us. Just when the opportunity for impact is the greatest, the connection to your audience can be the weakest.

Not so with Northwestern University's President, Morton Schapiro.  President Schapiro came to Denver recently, to meet with alumni. It was his first visit since he was inaugurated last year.  (Okay, when was the last time you saw that word, "inaugurated," not in conjuction with the U.S. Presidency?  That's cool enough to write more than once….but I'll spare you.)

I saw the previous university president speak in Denver several years ago.  It was what you would expect from the head of a large institution, speaking to a crowd–tightly scripted words that made no mark on my brain whatsoever.  To this day, I can't tell you much about Schapiro's predecessor or what he talked about.

Imagine my surprise (and delight) when I heard President Schapiro joke about the Dallas Mavericks, Queen Latifah, and celebrity chef, Bobby Flay, all within the first few minutes, in a way that felt unrehearsed and genuine. The guy is a hoot. He's the person at the dinner party that everyone wants to sit next to, because he calls it like it is.

But great leaders are not just people who make you feel like they are your next door neighbor. They also deliver on the goods with substantive ideas.  Compelling leaders create a vision that followers can get enthusiastic about.  They articulate strategies that are understandable, in plain language. After hearing Schapiro speak, I came away thinking, "This guy has done his homework. I think I can trust him."

I talked with someone who has seen "Morty," (as he's affectionately known) speak a lot.  I was told that he has a gift for reading an audience and tailoring his presentation to optimally engage the audience. A cynic might call this manipulation. I call it meeting your audience where they are. Here's a great example of that, in addressing students during one of the biggest campus events of the year, Dance Marathon:

 

 

Thanks, Morty, for the refreshing look at how to lead. I'll be following you for a long time.