Successful business leaders come in all shapes, sizes and leadership styles. And what makes them effective is not any one magic formula. Anyone who has worked under multiple good leaders will likely have widely varied descriptions of what made each one successful. But great leadership is not a natural occurrence; it is intentionally developed. And there are certain habits that contribute to meaningful leadership. Cultivating these habits can help anyone become a better and more effective leader.
Use your time well. Many of the most successful business leaders get up before 6 a.m. Though they use this time in many different ways, the constant is that it is a time that holds significantly fewer distractions than the rest of the day. Others may not get up early, but they all find a way to maximize and schedule their time to get the most out of each day. Scheduling your time and focusing on one thing at a time is critical to getting things done.
Keep learning. Whether it’s a new topic or just expanding on something you already know, strive to constantly be learning. In the midst of either success or failure, there are always things to learn. Be on the lookout for lessons you can learn and apply to your company, profession or personal life.
Be persistent. Perseverance is part of every long term success because success rarely occurs with a first attempt. It takes working through failures and fixing problems. It takes being committed for the long haul, staying focused on the end goal and figuring out what you need to do to accomplish it.
Get out of your comfort zone. Trying new things gives opportunities for both growth and learning. Regardless of how successful any new endeavor is, it will expand your horizons and give you new experiences, perspectives and knowledge.
Read a lot. Read about national news, local news, industry topics and anything that interests you. Reading stimulates your mind, gives you varied perspectives and keeps you informed. It’s also a good way to find proven strategies and tools to apply in business and your personal life and can improve both your writing and speaking skills.
Seek feedback and advice. People are going to give their opinions whether they are asked for it or not. But asking for feedback makes a big difference in how receptive you are to it. Unsolicited advice puts many people on the defensive which makes it difficult for them to see and apply the useful parts. Get in the habit of asking for advice from people whose opinions you value. By tapping into the knowledge and experience of others you will be able to make improvements, avoid repeating the same type of failures as others and be more effective.
Delegate all you can. Not only will delegating responsibilities to your employees save you time and enable you to focus on more important tasks, it will also help your team members grow and become more productive and competent. By helping them become successful, you will be contributing to your own success as well.
Live healthy. Three major components of a healthy life are sleep, exercise and eating well. A regular schedule of sufficient sleep will help you get sick less often, increase your cognitive abilities and improve your mood – all of which will help you be a better leader, make better decisions and accomplish more. Exercising routinely actually gives extra energy and reduces stress which will enhance productivity and mental abilities. And a nutritious diet is fuel for your body and your brain. Many of the most successful business leaders realize how important this is and have hired professional trainers and dieticians to help them consistently live healthy lifestyles.
