5 Surprising Habits of Exceptional Leaders You Might Not Know

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By Marcel Schwantes

I'm sure you've heard, once or twice, that "culture?eats strategy for breakfast." The idea behind this overused corporate-speak has a hard prerequisite: finding and developing human-centered leaders with an eye on putting people first.?

The link between great people leaders and culture is critical because leaders define the culture and embody its elements. Put bad leaders in place and you'll have a bad culture.

Truth is, you can have the best strategy in the world, but a negative culture led by an overconfident narcissist prevents strategy execution. That's why culture eats strategy for breakfast.

These great people leaders are champions, protectors, and "caretakers of the culture." Because they know it matters for competitive advantage. What exactly do they do differently??

Here's what I advise my senior-level management clients to put into action, day in and day out.

1. Stop compartmentalizing

In Chief Joy Officer, author Rich Sheridan,?the CEO and "chief storyteller" of Menlo Innovations,?challenges us to stop wearing masks and be the same person at work as we are at home. He writes, "The 'living lie' culture of workplaces is often rooted in the idea that what is happening outside of work must be compartmentalized and denied in order to be seen as the perfect employee or boss at work." He adds, "To develop ourselves as leaders we need to bring ourselves to work. Our whole selves, trouble and all."

2. Give your team members the glory

Leaders who forge ahead with a win-at-all-costs agenda?at the benefit of some and?the expense of others will quickly create silos, alienate people, and lose?the respect of the whole. Caretakers of great company cultures don't seek glory or take credit; they empower their people to do all the work, brainstorm solutions that add value and benefit the whole team, and give them all the glory after a great effort.?

3. Lead from a 'serving ego,' not a 'deserving ego'

In?Servant Leadership in Action: How You Can Achieve Great Relationships and Results, author and thought-leader Raj Sisodia?writes: "A leader who operates with a primary emphasis on self-interest naturally views other people as a means to that end. You cannot be a true leader if you operate at that level of consciousness. Selflessness does not mean eradicating the ego- it is about harnessing the ego in healthy ways. As the Dalai Lama has said, '[W]e must make sure it is a?serving?ego and not a?deserving?ego.'"

4. Believe and have faith in your people

In a?conversation?with?Rolling?Stone?magazine?at?one of the lowest points of his career,?Steve?Jobs?said: "What's important is that you have a faith in people, that they're basically good and smart,?and if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them."?As Jobs evolved as a leader, he demonstrated increasing faith in his employees. It's being able to adopt?a "trust first" mindset?before trust is earned. This is doing the hard emotional work of accepting and believing?in your?employees' abilities?to use their brains, strengths and natural talents to create?and innovate.

5. Facilitate a shared purpose

Leaders in high-performing company cultures communicate?an image of the future that draws people in--that speaks to what team members are seeing and feeling. They give their team members a clear destination so that?people?know where they're headed at all times. They also give their people?a purpose that answers?the question, "Why do we do the work we do?" When that question is answered consistently, people know what greater good they serve, ultimately keeping them focused on the end goal. Finally, they ensure that teams align through shared values--the principles guiding a team's decisions and actions on their daily journey.?With these components clearly defined, a tremendous amount of energy, passion, and productivity is unleashed.

Your turn: What other "surprising" (or not) habits or traits have you found in leaders that inspire and motivate others to greatness? Perhaps you're one of them? Share in the comments so others can learn from you.

Three Spots Are Open for Motivated Senior-Leve Leaders/Managers Who Want to Achieve Greatness

I'm opening my calendar and booking calls to hand-pick three new clients for the New Year. Here's the gist: We are being selective and only working with people who want to move the needle and see results.

The brutal truth: I'm disqualifying potential clients harder than ever before. The market is getting more selective.?So are we.

For you to make these calls and explore possibilities to work with me, you must be a motivated and high-functioning senior leader who fits with any of these scenarios:

• You want to grow your people skills to create impact, grow your business, and become more profitable.
• You want to learn proven, evidence-based leadership skills to take the next step in your career progression.
• You want the practices, tools, and strategies to build a strong work community, great culture, and a high-performing team that will kick ass.
• You want to build confidence, gain trust, and motivate others to the rafters.
• You want to master balancing the demands of work and life while being productive, build great teams, serve all stakeholders to the best of your ability, and be an awesome parent and spouse without losing your freaking mind in the process. ?
• You want to leave a legacy. You just need to know how to get there.
• You want any combination of the above. In short, you want to achieve success and greatness, but you're stuck and could use some outside help.

If you're ready and serious, so am I. Let's make this happen. Calls will only be taken on January 8 and January 9, 2025. Book your time here.

(Disclaimer: Pre-screen questions will follow once you click and book your time to ensure that you are someone we want to work with.)

About Marcel Schwantes

Marcel Schwantes is an international speaker, executive coach, and author, attracting millions to his thought leadership. Marcel has been recognized as one of the Top 101 Global Employee Engagement & Experience Influencers, along with Josh Bersin, Amy Edmondson, and Adam Grant. Join here for exclusive 'how to' leadership articles, coaching videos, tools, strategies, and more.

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