Take time out of your workweek and jot down a North Star that you can guide your team by. Envision where you want to go and how you’ll get there and put something on paper. It doesn’t matter how fully fledged the idea is at this point. The important thing is that you’re thinking about it and moving toward it.

What is the last new thing we have done for the client? Are we making weekly calls exciting, or are we just rolling over the playbook? What is the last innovative idea we have brought this client? When did we last shake up the team?

Eliminate “I feel” and “I think” from your feedback vocabulary.

Be more rigorous around watching for time lag. You won’t ever feel you moved too quickly, but you might feel you moved too slowly.

Avoid the grand reveal and bring clients along with your work and thinking. Avoid the surprise and delight mentality.

Sell me this pen. What to look for in an ideal answer: Is someone a creative thinker?

Focus less on getting through a meeting and more on how the actual meeting is going by looking at nonverbal cues. Look for client comfort and interaction.

Be old school. Write a handwritten note to someone.

Three things I or my team will do to generate more thought leadership credibility and stay ahead of client issues, even though there is nothing wrong right now: