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Think about the people in your life that you truly admire, or people from your past that you have looked up to. Consider why you hold them in such high regard.
Most likely, they demonstrate admirable leadership traits and are humble, likable, kind, respectful, and trustworthy individuals.
Conventional wisdom says “never say never,” yet people we admire have discovered over time that there are things they simply don’t do. These are the ones who:
1. Don’t neglect to lead themselves first
They’ve discovered that the first step to success and developing good leadership traits is to understand what motivates them, what they love, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. They have realized over time that they can’t truly appreciate others when they haven’t invested in understanding and leading themselves.
2. Don’t believe they know everything
They’ve made a habit of asking questions and seeking advice. They embrace the time-proven proverb, “In the abundance of counselors there is wisdom.”
They value people and know that anyone could have the right answer. They cultivate a circle of trusted advisors, and are mentored in a variety of ways by people who have experiences to share.
3. Don’t forget to make their spiritual, mental, and physical health a priority
They appreciate that a lot is expected of them. They’ve come to know that they can’t fulfill those expectations when they feel depleted.
One of their priorities is to recharge. Often, they have a morning routine in which they renew themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually.
4. Don’t define success solely in terms of work
They know that they and their teams will thrive when they are invested in something greater than themselves.
“Participating in meaningful activities elevates your thinking above yourself and your own momentary needs. Every minute you can set aside your own happiness for the sake of others will eventually lead to stronger families, organizations, and communities. In the end, the pursuit of happiness and ‘success’ will pass. What endures is creating meaning in your own life and in the lives of others.” – Tom Rath, Are You Fully Charged?
5. Don’t cease to show gratitude to a wide variety of people
Regardless of their role — From team members to suppliers, from the file clerk to the janitor, they treat everyone with respect and recognize the contributions of others.
“Successful people don’t cease to show gratitude to a wide variety of people.”
6. Don’t fail to support others
They have a generosity of spirit, and wholeheartedly want others to succeed. Sara Blakely, who started Spanx as a small business, says,
“Everybody needs a leg up in the beginning of starting a business. My big break came when Oprah named SPANX a ‘Favorite Thing.’ We at Spanx want to pay it forward and give other amazing women entrepreneurs their leg up!”
7. Don’t remain angry or resentful
They aren’t in denial when others disappoint them. They feel the pain and look for ways to resolve differences. Then they intentionally let go and don’t take it personally. They know that progress, forward movement, and forgiveness flow by letting go, as many times as necessary. They are too busy fulfilling their purpose to get stuck in the mire of bitterness and resentment.
8. Don’t practice corrosive behavior like lying, cheating, or gossiping
They know that integrity is a foundation for success, and that their words and actions constantly influence others. They know that a lack of integrity can ruin their business and hinder success.
9. Don’t expect perfectionism of themselves or others
They cultivate a positive attitude and optimism. They have high standards, do the work, and keep learning and growing. In business, they follow a simple formula: launch, tweak, improve.
They expect to keep making improvements as they grow their business, but they know they’re not perfect, and they learn from their mistakes and setbacks. They give themselves and others grace, so being around them is fun, not intimidating.
Which idea resonates with you today?
