7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders
By: Abrar Ahmed
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Development, Life, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Skills

Photo by Matteo Vistocco on Unsplash

1. They focus on small wins

Unsuccessful leaders fall in love with big vision and think big is the only way to go. In reality, large goals rarely materialize. Instead, focus on taking small steps toward your goal. It can be really tempting to get excited when you see success in the short-term, but remember that that kind of short-termism is a sure sign that you’re losing sight of your long-term goals. Focus on what’s important to you, not on achieving specific short-term milestones.

2. They prioritize their time

When you put an emotional person and a logical person in a room, you might expect the emotional one to start barking out ideas left and right. But that’s not always the case. In fact, it’s usually the more rational one who is more thoughtful and considerate of the broader impact their suggestions will have. Focus on making decisions that you’ll actually be satisfied with. Once you’ve made them, forget about them. Keep your head in the game by focusing on what’s most important.

3. They take full responsibility for mistakes

There are many things you can blame on a manager but only one that can make you truly happy: taking full responsibility for your mistakes. Think back to every time you’ve made a bad decision. Were you given adequate time to make the decision, or were you held accountable immediately? Whatever the case, always be quick to acknowledge your mistakes.

4. They hold others accountable

No leader is perfect. Instead of believing your team can always do your job better than you, they need to realize that you, and you alone, are responsible for results. While the need for ongoing feedback is one that everyone should have, leaders who don’t hold themselves accountable are living on borrowed time. You have to be willing to make the hard choices. You also have to be prepared to take the heat for them.

5. They don’t micromanage

While it’s important to be an influence and give direction, too much micromanagement can quickly turn into micromanagement. If you let your team run with their own ideas, they’ll be much more likely to implement them in the right manner. You don’t have to lead from behind the scenes. Give your team the freedom to do their jobs, and your team will take the initiative to make things happen.

6. They get back up when they fall

Proactively working to correct your mistakes doesn’t mean you have to remain wallowing in self-pity. It can be extremely difficult for people to admit they made a mistake. But in the end, you need to believe that you are a capable person and capable leader. Always be prepared to admit that you might not be perfect and that’s okay. Move on from mistakes quickly and maintain your focus. When your team members do the same, they’ll have a much easier time moving forward.

7. They take accountability for their weaknesses

While it’s extremely important to acknowledge that you can always be better, it’s also essential to be open about your weaknesses. If you are, you shouldn’t spend your energy berating yourself over your weaknesses. You should use them to fuel your focus and improve your weaknesses. Whenever you find yourself in a situation where you need to address a weakness, take ownership of it. Look for ways to get the most out of your weaknesses and increase your effectiveness. You won’t be so hard on yourself if you realize you’re doing the best you can in each situation.