4 Habits of the Best Leaders

Some people are just natural-born leaders.  Leading comes easy to them when they want to win over their employees, partners and customers.  Others have to work at it.  Many people wish wish that they could bottle up that natural leadership essence for themselves.  While their hearts might be in the right place, it’s just more difficult for them. As a result, they may never become true leaders.  But if we adhere to the 4 habits of the best leaders, we can get better at it.

1. Be willing to step into the role you’re overseeing.

You have to want to do the dirty work — to sweat.  One of the outcomes of good leadership is to improve each team member’s performance and quality of work.  One of the 4 habits of the best leaders is rolling up your sleeves and working alongside your employees. By the same token, good leaders lead by example. Be the kind of worker you want them to be. As a result, they will mirror your work ethic.

2. Be neutral.

The second of the 4 habits of the best leaders is neutrality.  It’s extremely difficult to be calm during a heated situation, but it’s important.  Leaders must remain neutral. Taking sides can mean damaging employees’ relationships with one another.  By the same token, choosing sides can endanger employer-employee relationships, Moreover, you risk a drop in workplace morale, the dissolution of trust and respect, and increased workplace hostility. Your job as a leader is to keep the peace while remaining ethical and fair.

3. Think outside of the box.

The third of the 4 habits of the best leaders is thinking outside the box.  Try to approach remedial tasks with a different outlook from time to time to keep everyone’s creative juices flowing. Look at the “Big Picture” when small issues occur. Will it have a drastic effect on anything? Is it worth the stress? Find a new way to complete different tasks or meet a certain goal. Keeping an open mind will make the workplace more fluid and adaptive.

4. Be an open communicator.

The fourth of the 4 habits of the best leaders is communication.  Practice active listening and make sure you are available to listen to your team. The more positive signals you give out during a conversation, the more open and honest team members are going to be. Having open dialogue will give everyone a chance to dissolve any tension or issues in the work environment. Moreover, you will increase productivity.

While being a leader can be hard and stressful, it’s rewarding. What’s more, it is possible to be a great leader, even if it doesn’t come naturally. Keep your focus on the four habits we discussed, and you’ll be on the right track.