3 Things Successful Leaders Do that Average Leaders Don’t Do
The things left out are often the things that make the greatest difference.
I often ask groups to make a list of things leaders do. I’ve never had them list the most important things. Never.
Typically, when asked, groups say leaders:
- Delegate
- Cast vision.
- Get things done.
- Lead teams and meetings.
- Challenge people and processes.
- Practice accountability.
- Give feedback.
The longer the list, the more conspicuous the absences.
What top leaders do that average leaders don’t do:
#1. Make self-improvement a priority.
I’ve never had a group say, “Leaders improve their own leadership,” when I ask them what leaders do.
Improvement is the FIRST necessity of success.
If you can’t name something you’re working to improve, you’re on the decline.
Too much enthusiasm for improving others is a smoke-screen that allows you to feel superior. You see the weaknesses of those around you and wrongly think you’ve arrived. Thinking you’ve arrived is the first sign you haven’t.
Smug criticism of others is an excuse for personal stagnation.
#2. Bring their best selves to work.
Successful leaders:
- Understand that leadership is about who you are before it’s about what you do. “Leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do.” Francis Hesselbein
- Practice self-reflection.
- Exercise emotional intelligence.
- Leverage strengths. Most spend way too much time fixing weaknesses. Yes, some weaknesses need to be mitigated, but success requires you to maximize your strengths.
#3. Practice self-care.
Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s smart. Take care of yourself if you want a fulfilling career with expanding impact and usefulness.
The belief that you can burn the candle at both ends destroys you.
Rasmus Hougaard’s research indicates the very top leaders:
- Get adequate sleep.
- Exercise emotional intelligence.
- Eat healthy.
- Work hard in a kind way.
What do average leaders do that top leaders avoid?
What could you do today that would reflect a commitment to becoming a successful leader?
Bonus: Rasmus Hougaard on Facebook Live discussing the behaviors of the very top leaders.
What could you do today that would reflect a commitment to becoming a successful leader? Admitting we don’t know everything and continue learning everyday we live. the fulfillment of education is the building block of the world.
What would the world be without education?
Truly amazing the transition that we see in our lifetime compared to our forefathers.
What do average leaders do that top leaders avoid? Average leaders tend to micro manage, not to say top leaders don’t, but I see the opportunity to guide and manage as compared to nit pick every little thing!
Love your insights Tim. When we get serious about learning the issue of humility starts to bubble up. Do I need to be the one who knows or could I possibly also be the one who learns. Best wishes
Lead by example on multiple levels and conduct yourself with the knowledge that you’re being watched.
Thanks Dale. For me, leading by example is expecting more from myself than I expect from others. If you have high expectations for others, well then…. you need higher expectations for yourself.
“What do average leaders do that top leaders avoid?”
Not to be too general in responding to this question, but it seems to me that many average leaders “sort of” commit to doing the things that top leaders do, but the inertia of their half-hearted approach can’t propel them out of their comfort zone to new levels of effectiveness. Defaulting to “good enough” is truly the enemy of becoming “as good as I can be!”
Ha!! Love it, Jim. “Sort of” commit. Half-way commitment is just as bad, maybe worse than, no commitment.
On teams, a person who commits half-way becomes an anchor. In our own lives a half-way commitment creates frustration and disappointment. I think a half-way leader loves finding fault with those who are fully committed. 🙂
“On teams, a person who commits half-way becomes an anchor. In our own lives a half-way commitment creates frustration and disappointment. I think a half-way leader loves finding fault with those who are fully committed.” – When I look at teams that have difficulty working together (at work and personal life), your statement is spot on. My kids encounter this at the high school level at well.
So the older I get these stand out:
Get adequate sleep.
Exercise emotional intelligence.
Eat healthy.
Work hard in a kind way.
When I don’t get “adequate sleep” I am not at my best.
When I don’t “exercise emotional intelligence” I don’t control the situation others do
When I don’t “eat healthy” I don’t have the strength I need
When I don’t “work hard in a kind way” I let the frustrations with others overwhelm me.
Very simple.
Thanks Roger. It’s the “average” mundane things that make a huge difference in leaders. You nailed it. We are never at our best when we need more sleep. It sounds so obvious, yet we ignore this basic principle of success. Instead we embrace the foolish idea that we can burn the candle at both ends.
I *love* this post, one of my favorites of yours. I think too often leaders will focus on the list at the top of the post, almost like it’s a checklist. “I’ve delegated, provided a vision, held people accountable and provided feedback, why am I still not getting what I need out of my people?”
I think in any relationship – boss to employee, parent to child, spouse to spouse, you have to bring your best self to that relationship, you have work to improve and you have to practice self care.
I saw a great speaker recently who was talking to a room full of managers. He had us all make the “ok” sign with our fingers and put it in front of our face just like he did. He put his “ok” sign on his cheek and asked us all to put ours on our chin. Of course we all put ours on our cheek just like him. He told us “actions are more powerful than words and that as leaders our actions speak volumes.” So when we work to improve, we bring our best selves into work and we take care of ourselves we set that example that is easier for others to follow.
I really love this post because we all too often forget the emotional intelligence needed to be and stay a good leader. Thank you for sharing!
“What could you do today that would reflect a commitment to becoming a successful leader?”
I think this depends on the definition of successful that is being applied. If the organisation’s criteria for success are to have the minimum number of mistakes, errors or deviations from standard practice, that would change what I would do…
I need to have a conversation with one of my team members and this blog has helped me figure out the approach to take – about bringing your best self to work.
Thanks Dan for pointing out these critical tenets of effective leadership. We have to be responsible for ourselves in order to be our best selves for others. I appreciate the affirmation.
I appreciate the fact that l Learnt something new. Making self improvement a priority has been my take but just learnt it’s a must do.
Bringing in one’s best all the time could be tasking but it’s not impossible too.
Self care, sure is a must for successful leaders but should not be at the expense of the of the organization and workforce.