Six Habits of Great Leaders

Being a successful leader is tricky business. “You can't have results at the expense of people. And serving your people well without getting results sets you up for failure,” notes Marcel Schwantes, contributing editor for Inc Magazine, and founder of Leadership from the Core. In a recent article, Schwantes describes six strategies that help leaders strike the right balance and actually make people want to work for them. 

1. Give feedback. Feedback, a core principle of great leadership, can address performance issues, celebrate outstanding performers, clarify direction, and set expectations. When giving feedback, keep it simple, be specific, and use examples. If there's a performance issue, focus on the issue, not the person.
2. Discuss your priorities as well as theirs. Let your employees know what you expect from them, but also share what you are working on so their efforts can be in alignment. “This strengthens bonds, helps boost engagement, and gets you more focused results.”
3. Hold “stay” interviews.  Unlike an exit interview, you'll get fresh insight about what you can do to improve and retain valued employees -- today, not after they have emotionally disconnected. 
4. Recognize your people. Employees who work for companies with formal recognition programs report a more satisfying experience.
5. Let your people make decisions.  Give employees the freedom to decide, participate in, and determine how work is best accomplished. Employees thrive in entrepreneurial settings, which make them more invested in the company. 
6. Expand their knowledge. Stretch employees with assignments that sharpen their skills. Give top employees the opportunity to learn something new.
   
   

How many of these habits do you notice in your organization, and how many have you personally mastered? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

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