11 Phrases that Good Leaders Always Say

Good leaders are different from other bosses. A key attribute is that they talk differently than their colleagues. According to numerology, the number 11 is considered a master number. It represents personal and leadership enlightenment. Similar statements are made by good leaders and it inspires their teams to greater heights. We become better people around leaders that communicate like the following.

1. "I am glad you are on our team!"

Yes, some leaders actually say that once in a while, instead of something like "What have you done for me lately?" I had one that used to say, "How much money have you made me today?" All employees want to be part of something bigger or grander than the everyday grind, and it's nice to know work can be that something. Real leadership is positive influence. If your influence is negative you are not leading.

2. "My vision is..."

It seems this is a novel concept, to communicate the overall goal of the work team, department, or company. It gives the big picture of everyone's job and the why. Good managers do this concisely but with passion, no matter what the work is. It is also important for on-going updates, telling everyone on the team "Here is how we are doing." With mediocre bosses, every day is "same old, same old."

3. "My expectations for you are..."

Few managers are good at providing clear goals and expectations. Our research shows that 80% of performance problems are because of a lack of clear expectations and goals. The best managers also say, "Let's talk about your progress," and not "Let me give you some feedback." That approach means LOOK OUT! The excellent managers adhere to this quote by Pat Riley, President of the Miami Heat: "A coach must keep everyone on the team in touch with present-moment realities- -knowing where they stand, knowing where they're falling short of their potential, and knowing it openly and fairly."

4. "You can do it, I believe in you."

We all need someone to believe in us. Good leaders give encouragement, and they challenge you to do better. I had one that would say, "You can do it, let's keep hustling!" I had another one that used to sing the song, "Sixteen Candles" down the hallway. Then he'd come over and praise me about some goal and head back down the hall, singing. It set a light tone to our brief meeting. Poorer managers always seem to be about bad news.

5. "Thank you!"

People want to be appreciated. [Is there some way I can put that up in flashing lights?!] A simple thank-you often is enough. 'Great job on...', 'keep up the good work..' or 'what I appreciate about you is...' are also other ways good leaders recognize but they do it regularly and sincerely. It's hard to get a compliment from other managers. It's documented that genuine praise works, plus it's the right thing to do. It strengthens a trusting relationship.

6. "How's it going?

They are willing to talk to you. Mr. Jim Low was a master at this. When I first met him his legend preceded him. For over a decade he led his market in profit, sales and employee retention. I asked why he was so good. He replied by laughingly saying, "I didn't go to college." He added that every day he'd come to work and first go talk to as many employees as he could by asking, "How's it going?" He might relate this to something he knew about the person. The employees mostly talked about their lives. He discussed business only if they brought it up. Then, when he had a problem, he would go to employees and get the straight info, no BS, because he already had a positive relationship with them.

7. "What do you think?"

Considering the pressures of our jobs and the need for innovation and improvement. Why wouldn't a manager ask this question of her team members often to get input and to learn something? Most employees are astounded when their managers ask this question and reply, "What?! Me?" You also have to train them to problem-solve and become solution-focused. They will become more proactive while improving their performance. After doing this for a while the team becomes more self-directed. They still will bring you problems but now they're the bigger issues and they will usually have a plan or idea of how to fix them.

Sadly, less effective managers are fearful of the answers to this question or don't care so they don't ask. Famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

8. "How do you think we can improve?"

This is the next logical question to ask a team. When you do, you begin to get their buy-in and commitment grows. They want to achieve their goals for their reasons too, not just yours. Each employee has untapped potential for great ideas. Why not ask? The best do this regularly in planning sessions or one on ones, and their employee engagement and productivity soars.

9. "I made a mistake."

Nobody's perfect. Good bosses admit it when they screw up and even apologize. Obviously, they aren't making so many mistakes that they are apologizing all of the time, but this is included because it is so out character for most leaders to do this.

I was at a conference a few weeks ago where a manager talked to his team about a marketing campaign that failed. The manager owned the failure and said he was sorry to his team because he really pushed for it. Because he had trust with his employees, they got through it. By learning from this situation and collaborating they created a better plan which then worked. When was the last time you heard a manager (or, a politician) say, "I made a mistake"?

10. "Let's figure this out together."

Sometimes when you are confronted with a problem from a team, neither you nor anybody else knows what to do. Don't just say, "I don't know". Instead, brainstorm with your team, talk to your boss or colleagues or go to an expert outside the company for advice. Next, you have to follow-through and reconnect with your team about possible solutions. People at all levels appreciate and respect this kind of communication.

11. "My success comes from the team"

I have heard managers say this to their teams, but something more self-glorifying to their boss or colleagues. That gets around, and their credibility is destroyed. The managers that highlight their teams' efforts and give credit to them for any victories are golden leaders. A leader's success is all about the team. In the movie "The Mighty Ducks", Coach Bombay tells his team, "A team isn't a bunch of kids out to win. A team is something you belong to, something you feel, something you have to earn."

Summing Up

Napoleon Hill declared, "Think twice before you speak because words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another." These eleven phrases will give your team a lift, and increase their engagement and morale. It builds them up, not down like so many other managers do. Let's not forget another quote filled with wisdom, by Emerson: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

What are you thoughts or examples?

For over 400 complimentary resources, subscribe to: The Superstar Leadership Blog.

Or, check out Rick's best selling book, Superstar Leadership.

If you like this post or others, please hit the FOLLOW button above. Thank you for reading and commenting! Here are a few other posts you may find interesting.

• 7 Signature Traits that Define Servant Leaders
• The Philosophy of Management
• Why Women Tend to Lead Better than Men
• Nobody Communicates Around Here
• 13 Troubles of Terrible Teams
• Leadership is About People, Not Your Paycheck
• Character Defines the Leader
• 6 Proven Ways to Deal with a Bad Boss
• How to Get Feedback When You Are the Leader