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7 principles to being a leader: Start with better breathing

Susan Freeman’s advice for those who seek a new path to become better leaders requires an open-your-mind (and body) spirit.


  • By Mark Gordon
  • | 5:00 a.m. May 3, 2023
  • | 0 Free Articles Remaining!
Leadership consultant Susan Freeman's new book, "Inner Switch: Seven Timeless Principles to Transform Modern Leadership," will debut May 9.
Leadership consultant Susan Freeman's new book, "Inner Switch: Seven Timeless Principles to Transform Modern Leadership," will debut May 9.
Courtesy photo
  • Leadership
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Executive coach, author and speaker Susan Freeman recently received a phone call from a client who joyously wanted to thank her for helping him with something that, on the surface, seems rather elementary: breathing.

The client, in business to business sales, told Freeman he had a prospective customer meeting that began ominously. The prospect, a gruff procurement manager, had his arms folded with a frown when Freeman’s client walked into the room. The manager had a look, Freeman’s client told her, that screamed, “if you are trying to sell me something today, I have bad news for you.”

So the client paused. He did some centered and deep belly breathing for 30 seconds. Then he calmly went into his sales pitch. And he walked out, Freeman says, with a $50,000 equipment sale. “He called me from the car after, and was so excited,” says Freeman.

 


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author

Mark Gordon

Mark Gordon is the managing editor of the Business Observer. He has worked for the Business Observer since 2005. He previously worked for newspapers and magazines in upstate New York, suburban Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

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