Presidential character is an individual and group effort. If the chief executive can’t stay on the rails, aides nudge him back so that he doesn’t act so foolishly that voters, congressional rivals, and world leaders stop taking him seriously. A president can sap the confidence and authority needed for future national conversations or push negotiating partners into corners those adversaries can’t get out of without losing too much face. Understanding the power of speech and self-control over what you say is as important for CEOs as it is for presidents. When Marshall Goldsmith worked with the
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