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5 habits of successful people leaders and how to develop those skills

Shape behavior from the top down.

Leaders at all levels help set the tone for their organizations. The best leaders take an intentional approach to their workplace behavior and embody their organization’s values.

To help you refine your leadership style and get the most from your people, here are five habits shared by highly successful and effective people leaders and tips for developing them.

1. Lead with empathy.

Leading with empathy means you’re fostering an environment where people feel at ease — so they can perform at their very best. This involves crafting an experience with employee needs in mind.

Show employees that the company is invested in supporting them so that in turn, they’re willing to invest their time and energy in supporting the company.

of CEOs believe a company’s financial performance is tied to empathy in the workplace.

Source: Businessolver, State of Workplace Empathy 2018

How to become an empathetic leader

Always listen.
The single most critical element of empathy is listening. The more you listen, the easier it will become to adopt another person’s perspective.

Don’t assume.
Ask clarifying questions to avoid making assumptions. Use statements like, “It sounds like you feel …” to encourage employees to correct you if you’ve misunderstood.

Be present.
It’s much harder to assess emotions and react empathetically over email. Set up an in-person meeting, or video meeting to connect with remote staff.

Empathy success tips

For executives
Show employees their voices are being heard by circulating frequent updates on what you’re doing to improve and why.

For department heads
Make an effort to connect with employees. Set up virtual Q&A sessions and have employees submit questions beforehand.

For team leaders
Meet regularly with team members on a one-on-one basis to gather feedback and understand how they’re feeling. Focus on what they’re saying, rather than thinking ahead to how you’re going to respond.

Two people brainstorming and taking notes on a whiteboard

2. Embrace change.

The best leaders aren’t content with standing still. They know that the world of work evolves quickly, and they encourage employees to adopt the mindset of constant improvement and innovation.

This is especially true when it comes to technology. Leaders who invest in adopting new technology set themselves apart as forward-thinking, making it easier to attract and retain great talent.

The only way you survive is you continuously transform into something else. It’s this idea of continuous transformation that makes you an innovation company.”
– Ginni Rometty, Former CEO, IBM

Source: Edison Awards, Edison Achievement Award Honoree Ginni Rometty

How to become a leader who embraces change

Get employees involved.
Employees who interact daily with customers or tools know what works and what doesn’t. Make it easy for them to share feedback or propose solutions and celebrate successful suggestions.

Encourage experimentation.
Avoid getting comfortable with the status quo by taking calculated risks and encouraging employees to do the same. Give clear direction about how and when employees can act on their own, and be forgiving of failure.

Tips for embracing change

For executives
Pay attention to employee survey data and use it to inform decisions that will have an impact on your workforce — and customers.

Two people sitting on a couch, facing one another

3. Act as a mentor.

Even the most successful leaders recognize they can’t lead forever. Being an effective leader means thinking long term. Strong leaders mentor and help advance the careers of their team members.

This shows employees that both the company and its leaders are invested in their future. And by investing in employee development, company retention is higher and institutional knowledge is retained.

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

– Jack Welch, Former CEO, General Electric

Source: Inc., Jack Welch Always Wanted His Team Members to Take Ownership of Their Work. Here’s Why

How to become a leader who mentors

Identify needed skills.
Evaluate ahead of time what skills and knowledge are needed to sustain your organization in the future, so that when you’re hiring you’ll home in on the right candidate faster.

Prioritize professional development.
Help employees plan their career path and empower them to get to the next step by providing professional development support. Whether it’s a structured training program or informal mentorship, every opportunity is a chance for them to grow.

Establish cross-generational mentoring.
Help age-diverse teams thrive by supporting cross-generational mentoring to discover future leaders and encourage innovation.

Mentor success tips

For hiring managers
Ask these 30 essential behavioral interview questions to screen for leadership and other soft skills.

A group of four coworkers looking at a whiteboard and having a discussion

4. Welcome different views.

Consensus isn’t necessarily the sign of a harmonious workplace. Often, the healthiest companies are the ones where employees feel comfortable speaking up.

Top leaders don’t try to eliminate dissent — they focus on using it to identify better ways of working. By inviting employees to share their opinions without facing punishment or embarrassment, leaders can catch potential issues before they escalate.

Employees who feel their voices are heard are 4.6x more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.

Source: Salesforce, New Research: How Leading with Equality and Values Impacts Your Business

How to become a leader who welcomes different views

Seek second opinions.
Strengthen your ideas and initiatives by brainstorming with employees to tap into a wide range of perspectives. This ensures you are accounting for any blind spots.

Embrace an open communication policy.
Some employees may be less comfortable with face-to-face communication. Make sure everyone knows that they can reach out to you in other ways, such as by email.

Don’t take it personally.
As a manager, your reputation is closely tied to the performance of the organization. That can make feedback feel more personal, and harder to take. Remind yourself that it’s not about you. It’s about making the organization better.

Tips for welcoming different views

For team leaders
Listen to feedback neutrally and avoid the urge to interrupt. If you feel that an employee voiced their dissent in an unproductive or disrespectful way, follow up privately, or you may inadvertently discourage others from sharing their perspectives.

An age-diverse group of employees sits at a table, listening to a woman speak

5. Encourage age-diverse hires.

Today, four generations make up the bulk of the workforce. But ageism — prejudice or discrimination in the workforce based on a person’s age — is still a very real thing.

Strong leaders see that every generation can bring unique insights and strengths into every role. Help your organization become more well rounded by balancing experience with fresh talent.

of talent professionals say a multigenerational workforce makes a company more successful.

Source: LinkedIn, Global Talent Trends 2020

How to become a leader who hires diversely

Leave assumptions at the door.
Generational stereotypes can cause you to overlook great talent and leave knowledge untapped. Employees can surprise you. The youngest may be the most emotionally mature, and the oldest may be the most innovative.

Promote cross-generational bonding.
Employees can’t benefit from the wisdom of others if they never interact. Have more conversations with employees outside of your sphere, and encourage people of all ages to get to know one another.

Tips for diverse hiring

For executives
Create reverse mentorships where executives meet with younger employees to stay up to date on digital skills and generational trends.

For department heads
Bring employees from different generations together — like pairing older and younger workers during group training sessions.

For team leaders
Intergenerational conflicts can happen. Show respect to everyone on your team and employees will follow your lead.

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