The Exceptional Skills began a number of years ago with a simple goal: to help people develop the soft skills they need to succeed at work. Back then, while working at a college, my colleague and I learned firsthand how many employees were being held back—not by a lack of technical knowledge, but by a lack of soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and people skills.

Over time, we created articles and resources on those skills, some of which you can still find in the blog archive. Eventually, my colleague stepped in a different direction, and I (Thomas) continued the work.

As I began creating content on leadership, though, I quickly realized three important things:

1. I didn’t truly understand leadership. I had been in leadership roles since high school, but I discovered that holding a title didn’t mean I really knew how to lead.
   
   
2. Much of the content out there is confusing, superficial, or flat-out wrong. Well-meaning people often share ideas that sound good but don’t actually help anyone become a better leader. Even basic concepts—like the difference between leadership and management—are often muddled.
   
   
3. Leadership is everything. It’s the number one factor in the success or failure of an organization. Yet despite the mountains of leadership content out there, weak leadership is still everywhere—causing disengagement, frustration, and turnover.
   
   

I also saw a hard truth: being in a position doesn’t make someone a leader. We’ve all experienced bad bosses and managers who prove that. And almost no one thinks they’re a “bad leader,” even when their teams are struggling.

That’s why I shifted my focus.

My mission with The Exceptional Skills is simple: to cut through the noise and give you practical, proven leadership principles that actually work.

I don’t base everything on one executive’s personal story or the latest trend. I sift through the clutter, filter out the fluff, and bring you what’s real, consistent, and effective. Whether you’re leading a team, running a business, or just starting your leadership journey, my goal is to help you grow into the kind of leader people want to follow.