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Over my 25-year career in talent management, leadership and learning, I have picked up some great lessons in leadership. I've had the honor of working with some incredible leaders and the unfortunate challenge of working with others that were lacking.

There are commonalities across each of those groups. Interestingly, a recent visit to Las Vegas brought this into a new and fresh perspective for me.

Your Words Matter

Each morning, when my children and I (Tyler, 12) and (Eden, 9) rode the elevator down from the 19th story at the Delano Hotel in Las Vegas, we were met by a quote in the mirror.

This collection of quotes was something that we ended up looking forward to each day. Some of our favorites were:

‘Your ‘I can’ is more important than your IQ.’ - Robert Sharma

‘Smile, it's free therapy.’ - Douglas Horton

‘Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.’ - George Addair

‘The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.’ - Ronald Reagan.

‘Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.’ – Sam Levenson.

Watching how impactful these quotes in the mirror were on myself and my children, I quickly realized that there were many lessons to be learned in Las Vegas (I'm not the first, I'm sure!!). Lessons about ourselves, about life, and yes, about leadership!

"People know if you aren't being honest, if you don't have their best interests at heart, and if you don't genuinely care about their well-being"

That is why the first lesson I selected is that your words matter— a lot. If you are not spending your time raising your team up, you do not deserve the position of leader. Dr. Henry Cloud said, ‘Be hard on the issue, soft on the person.’ Sadly, I have too many times seen leaders tough on the person and not the problem, essentially solving nothing but dimming another’s spirit. As a leader, you are responsible for the progress of the work and for advancing the team's goals. However, it is your duty to accomplish this in a way that makes your team feel heard, empowered and inspired. It is not your job to put them down or diminish their efforts. Instead, you need to find the lesson and solve the problem. If you cannot be a source of strength and inspiration for your team, leadership may not be the role for you.

Nothing Is More Powerful than Trust; The Concept of Trust through Cirque de Soleil

An environment of high trust is the secret sauce that will move any team from good to great and from great to exceptional.

We had the honor of attending Michael Jackson's Cirque de Soleil performance in Vegas, and to say I was moved to tears would be an understatement. In fact, I pretty much cried the entire show, tears of joy, sadness, amazement and awe.

Each move in the 90-minute show required every person's full cooperation and trust in that performance. Some moments had them moving so closely in unison that one wrong step would spell disaster for them and their castmates. And yet, not one of them hesitated for even a second. Beyond their incredible talent, it is clear that their trust in each other and their leader is unshakeable.

Rarely in business are the stakes this high, but I believe the same principles apply. Everyone wants to feel supported, believed in, empowered, and responsible enough to make their own decisions. Everyone wants to feel the glory of success and to be recognized for their work. To be trusted and believed in for their own unique abilities. If, as a leader, you can find a way to do this for each team member, driving up the trust equation, my belief is that lady luck will be on your side, and you and your team will be winning large!

The Value of Diversity

The value of diversity on Fremont Street was easy to spot and a delight to experience.

I could have sat all day and just watched people at the Fremont Street Experience. If there is one lesson that Fremont brings quite starkly into perspective, it is that our differences not only make us more attractive and overall better but also make us more enjoyable, interesting, and fun!

The diversity of Fremont Street runs deep and is not just one-dimensional. Like true diversity, it is a difference in thought, beliefs, appearance, perspective, lived circumstances, and all dimensions of social and economic situations. It is these differences that make Fremont Street so special and uniting. Fremont Street is a lesson in the best diversity has to offer. As a leader, the more you can encourage and embrace diversity of all kinds, the stronger your team will be, and the more you'll be able to connect to your customers.

Balance is the Ultimate Key

Las Vegas is a city of excess and extravagance. Everywhere you look and every place you go, you can experience the best the world has to offer— from dining to entertainment to world-class hotels. There is no shortage of experiences that can take your breath away.

However, in all of the good, there is also the other end of the spectrum. The risk, the loss and the excess. Reflecting upon this experience, I can't help but think about how important it is to remain grounded and to balance the world of possibilities. This remains true beyond the state of Nevada and is perhaps even more significant for leaders. A team needs someone they can depend on. A trustworthy force with a steady hand to guide the team through highs and lows. If you can bring balance to work, the team, and problem-solving while helping each team member achieve that balance for themselves, you most certainly land in the upper echelon of leadership capability.

Be Real! Everyone can Spot a Phony

I went to Vegas and did not even play one slot machine.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer size and volume of casinos. The number of people playing games at all hours of the day and night was mindboggling. But the most interesting part to me wasn't the games or the people playing them. It was how gifted the casino table operators were at calling a bluff, spotting a phony, and keeping an eye on the players. When I stopped to think about it, most people are pretty good at this when they're in their element, whether it's a dealer in a game of poker or a team of marketers in business. People know if you aren't being honest, if you don't have their best interests at heart, and if you don't genuinely care about their well-being. And they will respond accordingly, with the type of effort that is deserved.

The lesson here is to be a transparent leader and to show genuine care for your team. If people can believe you, they will believe in you, and they will follow where you lead, and you will reap the benefits of their discretionary effort.

But if you can’t put your cards on the table, people will call your bluff.