Highly effective leadership: Habits for today’s leaders

Remember what it was like to work on a group project in school? Some teachers were kind enough to assign roles within each group. Others, however, had a more “get it done” approach, leaving roles and tasks to be figured out by the group itself. Within the group, there were those that pulled their weight and offered their ideas and talents to the group. There were also group members who were simply ‘along for the ride’--and an easy grade. Conflict, frustration, and even desertion could haunt a project. Yet in every group, it seemed, there was one person who would take charge of the situation. This person would listen to ideas, use critical thinking to problem solve, and delegate necessary tasks based on skill and equality. This leader didn’t rise up because they had all the answers, nor because they were born for a leadership role. No, they rose up for the good of the group. 

It was in the thick of one of these group projects that I realized: leadership isn’t about control. It isn’t about status, authority, or a demand for respect. It doesn’t come from some superior gene or a certain set of traits, nor is it reserved for members of a certain title. Good leadership is about clarity, guidance, and creating an environment where people can do their best work and achieve their potential. More importantly, good leadership can come from all of us.

A great leader

Leaders are sometimes like a Wifi connection: we don’t know how important a good one is until we have a bad one. A great leader’s impact, however, is discernible almost immediately. Great leaders demonstrate certain values we all hold to be virtuous: integrity, empathy, and fortitude. They achieve the results they set out to achieve, but they also focus on driving motivation, encouraging growth, and recognizing the potential in their team.

Great leaders don’t just manage people, they inspire, guide, and create lasting impacts on their teams and organizations. They are extremely important for all aspects of our society—not just workplaces. So much so, in fact, that one Gallup study found 70% of employee engagement is tied directly to leadership quality. So, how does one become a great leader? What does a great leader even look like? To understand how to develop the qualities necessary to become a great leader, we turn to Stephen Covey.

Stephen Covey’s classic 7 Habits of Highly Effective People offers a blueprint for strong, effective leadership. Throughout this critically acclaimed work, Covey dives into the qualities and habits needed for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. These principles arm leaders with the ability to adapt to change, make wise decisions, and take advantage of growth opportunities. These habits are so essential to quality leadership that we’ve decided to explore three of these critical principles. 

READ: Lead the way: 5 tips for navigating leadership in today’s workplace

3 Leadership habits from Covey

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind

Imagine waking up one day and deciding you’d like to run a marathon. You lace up your old sneakers and start jogging around your neighborhood. Without proper training or a real plan for conditioning, your motivation starts to wane. As you run, progress feels illusion and success unattainable.

Now, imagine deciding to run a marathon. This time, Though, you start the process with a clear goal in mind and construct a thorough and well-devised plan on how to run your 26.2 miles. You track your milestones, adhere to a training routine, and keep the finish line in sight. No longer guesswork, progress is measurable and success within reach. 

Like a runner determined to complete a marathon, great leaders define a vision that keeps their team focused, developed, and pointed to success. They set clear goals and create a vision for the future, rather than prioritizing only the immediate and necessary. Instead of simply reacting to circumstances thrown their way or taking it day-by-day, an effective leader crafts a clear vision, sets a measurable goal, and inspires the organization or team to realize that goal.

A clear, long-term vision is essential to the success of an organization. The creation and actualization of this vision often depends on leadership. Leaders who are fully committed to long-term change initiatives are 30% more likely to see their efforts succeed, according to research from Bain & Company. As a leader, you have the power to shape the future of your organization for better by beginning with the end in mind and prioritizing long-term success.

Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, introduced the company’s Performance with Purpose initiative. This initiative set a clear vision for sustainable growth by focusing on creating healthier products, decreasing environmental impacts, and improving employee engagement. This initiative was formed with a specific end in mind, allowing Nooyi and management to think ‘future back’--deciding what PepsiCo needed to do day-by-day in the company to make the changes they were striving for. Beginning with an end in mind made Indra Nooyi one of the most successful CEOs of her time and an incredibly effective leader. 

Habit 2: Seek first to understand, then to be understood

Effective leaders listen first, then respond. This second habit of Covey’s prioritizes understanding your team’s needs, concerns, and motivations before making decisions or offering solutions. Active listening in leadership is an essential, yet scarce, quality. A LinkedIn survey of 14,000 employees found that only 8% believe their workplace leaders actively listen to their needs and concerns. However, active listening when incorporated in the workplace has been found to decrease miscommunications and increase employee satisfaction.

Satya Nadella stepped into the position of CEO at  Microsoft in 2014. He immediately  transformed the company’s culture by focusing on empathy and understanding. Rather than coming in swinging, Nadella took a humble approach. Though he was in the very technical world of computer science, he chose the human aspect of empathy to be the foundation of his leadership. His leadership shift toward active listening and collaboration revitalized Microsoft’s innovation and employee engagement.

READ: 6 Tips for improving communication and overcoming attitudinal barrier

Habit 3: Sharpen the saw

Even the best knives require a good sharpening–and so, too, does a good leader. Continuous self-improvement and renewal are essential for long-term leadership success.

Of course, sharpening skills could mean brushing up on soft skills–communication, problem-solving, critical thinking–or honing hard skills–measurable skills of a trade. You can fine-tune the unique talents you’ve developed while developing new abilities by seeking new experiences and growth opportunities in and out of the workplace.

Aman Bhutani, CEO of GoDadddy, believes that if you want to be a better leader you must work on becoming a better person. He often attributes his success as a CEO to his emphasis on the principle of self-improvement. In fact, he often advises other leaders to look to self-improvement when in times of decision-making and to view self-improvement as “[competition] with the person you know best-–the person you were yesterday.”

READ: Hard skills vs. ‘success’ skills

It’s also essential to invest time in understanding what today’s workers are looking for in their leadership. Are they looking for a traditional employer/employee relationship? How important is inclusivity? How do they expect their leaders to handle sensitive topics like mental health? This post explores answers to these questions and more. 

Leaders aren’t just born, they’re formed through intentional habits and continuous growth. Covey’s three principles–setting a clear vision, listening actively, and prioritizing self-improvement–can create a lasting impact on you and your team and drive your joint success to new heights. 

Take a moment to reflect on your own leadership journey. Which of these habits could you stand to work on? How could you further implement these habits into your day-to-day life? Are you leading to your full potential? 

Every leader, regardless of experience or expertise, can benefit from leadership coaching. These services aim to sharpen your hard and soft skills, eliminate perceived constraints, and re-frame your thinking. Actively participating in a coaching can help you visualize all you and your organization are capable of becoming. Learn more about Leadership Coaching and how to accelerate your growth journey.

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