These 7 Practices Will Turn You Into an Exceptional Leader

I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share an article I read about ?These 7 Practices Will Turn You Into an Exceptional Leader. Here are a few highlights:

I'll never forget the first moment I really knew?leadership?mattered. I was 19, working as a teller for a regional bank, and a group of executives came to visit our office. The top-performing teller that worked next to me had been working hard for years and was trying to earn a promotion to become a banker. In advance, she was promised time with the executives that day to share her story and earn their endorsement. She had put a lot of effort into that day — she bought a suit to wear to work for that specific day, and had gotten up extra early to do her hair and practice what she would say.

When the executives left without saying a word to her, she fell apart. She cried in the back break room, and it was at that exact moment I made a promise to myself that if I ever was in a position of senior leadership, nothing like that would ever happen on my watch. I vowed to be better.

I've created a framework for great leadership (I call it V.I.R.T.U.E.S.) and I know that these seven practices are essential to exceptional leadership.

1. Have a vision

Great leaders always have a compelling view of a future reality that looks different than today. And not only do they have it, but they share it, communicate it and talk about it constantly. The vision is the purpose, it's the "why." It's why we do what we do. It's why what we do matters. Great leaders eat, breathe and live this vision every day. They ensure that people know what it is and know how they individually contribute to the bigger picture. They ensure that people are as excited about it as they are.

2. Involve others

The best leaders know leadership is not about them, but it's about others. Really outstanding leaders involve their teams, their peers, their partners, their clients and as many people as possible in nearly everything they do. When you're in leadership, you no longer manage "things." You lead and inspire the people who manage the things. Terrific leaders know this. They involve others in key decisions, meetings and events.

3. Routine regimen

Exceptional leaders have consistent routines, especially around the activities and behaviors that matter most. They put the most important daily, weekly, or monthly actions that make a difference on a cadence. They put it on the calendar and don't deviate from those plans. Coaching people both in a 1:1 setting and in groups, sharing business updates, team building and creating space to learn new things are all examples of the actions that matter most.

4. Talk terrifically

Excellent leaders are often excellent communicators. However, one thing excellent leaders do incredibly well is create environments where others can excel in?communication, too. They work hard to establish safe, secure environments where people can have dialogue, ask questions and share things they're afraid of or nervous about. They're constantly asking questions of everyone around them and they listen well.

5. Understand how understanding works

Outstanding leaders know how very important?learning?and growth are for a team's success. The business world is constantly evolving and changing, so if we, as people, aren't upskilling ourselves, then we're already falling behind. Great leaders are constantly creating learning environments, so people can gain new skills, learn new things and grow.

6. Encourage energy

Inspiring leaders are constantly finding reasons to encourage the heart by recognising and rewarding success. Great leaders don't wait until a project has been fully completed to celebrate. They're great about finding small wins to celebrate. Their goal is always progress — never perfection — so they're terrific about acknowledging milestones and steps along the way before a project has been completed or before the team is at the finish line.

7. Showcase swimming

With everything that they do, incredible leaders walk the talk. They model the way. They showcase the very behaviors that they want to see in other people. They practice what they preach and they truly live everything that they're asking others to live. Their actions match their words. If they expect others to readily admit their mistakes and?be vulnerable, they do the same thing. They eagerly tell their worst war stories about their earlier days so others can learn from them.

I guarantee you that if you follow these seven practices, you will be an exceptional leader. Your people will adore you, respect you, stay fiercely loyal to you and you will have sustainable, breakthrough results.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspective. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at [email protected]; or call me on 0467 749 378.

Thanks,

Robert