LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT – Six Important Behaviors of Strong Leaders

At Experts in HOW we provide Leadership Development to a number of companies and

over the years we have had the opportunity to work with many business leaders.  Some were excellent and others struggled to find their way. One thing we have learned for sure – being a good leader is a lifelong pursuit because there is always something to learn.  Still, our leadership development team has observed that there are a few basic behaviors that are at the core of every successful leader.

They understand the difference between urgent and important.  

Strong leaders avoid spending time constantly putting out fires and managing small crises.  As Dwight Eisenhower said “The important is seldom urgent and the urgent is seldom important.”  Good leaders recognize what is important and set clear priorities. They understand that our true priorities are revealed by actions and decisions we make.

They don’t focus on doing great things – they focus on helping others to do great things.

True leadership comes from learning how to influence others to perform at their best and enable  them to achieve success.  

They listen longer

A good leader understands the importance of taking extra time to listen to employees and colleagues who have a different point of view.  Leaders make it a priority to allow people the time they need to fully express themselves before making a decision.  

They have a can-do attitude

Even in tough circumstances strong leaders maintain an optimistic attitude.  They demonstrate confidence in their team and in their own leadership ability to accomplish even the most demanding goals.  They willingly accept challenges and feel motivated to succeed.

They understand the emotional scale of human behavior.

Good leaders understand the importance of their emotional state and the emotional state of others around them. They understand how the emotional scale of human behavior can influence the impact of their  interactions with others. By understanding the emotional scale, they can directly influence performance.

They understand the power of respect in leadership.

A strong leader understands that respect is the foundation of a healthy, successful workplace.  They champion a culture of respect because they understand that it  fosters teamwork, promotes productivity and allows for improved efficiencies and the achievement of goals. 

In Leadership Development work we have learned that “Leadership does not require designated authority” – The Power of Respect in Business