50 rules for being a great leader

7/23/2019 50 Rules for Being a Great Leader

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50 Rules for Being a Great Leader

Becoming a great leader isn’t something that happens overnight, but it can be

achieved through discipline, hard work and a commitment to improvement through

experience. Great leaders aren’t born, as some people suggest; instead, they are

shaped over time. And, while what makes a “great leader in one application

doesn’t always apply to others, there are some general rules that all great leaders

!ollow.

"! becoming a great leader in your own business or organi#ation is your goal, these

$% rules are a good place to start&

1. Listen to your team. 'ule one. Always listen to what your team has to say,

even i! you don’t like it.

2. Communicate as eciently as possible. (ake your expectations and !eelings

clear, in the appropriate medium as o!ten as possible.

3. al! less. )ometimes saying nothing is better than saying *ust anything.

". Be an e#ample. Be the type o! person you want your team members to be.

5. Be passionate. "! you aren’t passionate about your business, you’re in the

wrong business.

$. Be consistent. Be consistent in your behaviors so your team knows what to

expect !rom you.

%. &a!e 'rm decisions. +on’t leave things undecided !or long, and don’t waver

about a decision once you’ve made it.

(. )dentify mentors and role models. ind people you can look up to and learn!rom, and !ollow them closely.

*. )nterfere only +,en necessary. "! you trust your team to do good work, don’t

inter!ere unless absolutely necessary.

10. -no+ your limits. +on’t extend yoursel! beyond your means.

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11. -no+ your strengt,s. "! you’re good at resolving disputes, step in and resolve

them as o!ten as possible.

12. -no+ your +ea!nesses. "! there’s something you’re not good at, admit it,

and work on it.

13. on/t ma!e e#cuses. "! you make a mistake, take ownership o! it and don’t

pass the blame to someone or something else.

1". ccept t,e unforeseen. -ou can’t control or predict everything.

15. C,oose your partners carefully. ork only with people you can count on and

trust.

1$. o good. /ommit yoursel! to being a good person and giving back to the

community when possible.

1%. &eet ne+ people all t,e time. 0ake every opportunity to expand your

network and expose yoursel! to new experiences and perspectives.

1(. tay in touc, +it, your emotions. +on’t be a robot 11 let yoursel! !eel.

1*. emper your reactions. 2old back your reactions until you have a moment to

clari!y your internal thoughts and !eelings.

20. ae fun. 0ake the time to have !un with your team.

21. Researc, eeryt,ing. Be!ore making a decision, know the pros and cons 11 do

your homework.

22. ,in! eeryt,ing t,roug,. 3ever exclusively trust your instincts or 4rst

reactions.

23. C,oose your team carefully. 2ire only those you can trust to get the *ob

done 5and to get along with others, as well6.

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http://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/7-types-of-people-who-will-challenge-you-to-grow.html



2". 4rioritie your team. -our team is everything. Give them whatever they need

to succeed.

25. Be ,umble. +on’t get big1headed about your wealth, in7uence or position as a

leader.

Related6 10 abits of 7ltra8Li!able Leaders

2$. 9orgie mista!es. 8veryone makes them.

2%. 9orgie yourself. +on’t beat yoursel! up too much over anything. (ove on.

2(. Be rational. (ake decisions logically.

2*. Be reasonable. 9isten to dissenting opinions, and be !air.

30. &a!e time for +,at/s important. 0here’s no such thing as “not having time

!or what’s really important in your li!e. (ake the time.

31. Constantly learn. 'ead as much as you can, and take classes whenever you

have the opportunity.

32. )mproe eeryt,ing. ork on improving your approaches, your skills and yourprocesses constantly.

33. :eer gie up. +on’t throw in the towel when a little extra persistence could

put you over the edge.

3". ransform your met,ods +,en necessary. "! something isn’t working,

change your approach.

35. Cut your losses +,en necessary. "! you’re 4ghting a losing battle, retreat

and start again somewhere else 5or in a new way6.

3$. Learn from your mista!es. 0ry not to make the same mistakes twice.











3%. Ground eeryt,ing +it, data. Back up all your decisions, opinions and

thoughts with hard, ob*ective !acts and evidence.

3(. on/t ignore signs of stress. )tress is real and can inter!ere with your ability

to lead. "! it starts setting in at abnormal levels, take action to reduce or relieve it.

3*. Gie feedbac!. 9et your team know what they’re doing well and what needs

!urther improvement.

"0. rust; but erify. 0rust your team to get things done, but always !ollow up to

make sure the work is completed.

"1. Be approac,able. 9et people know they can trust you, and open your door to

anybody who needs it.

"2. reat eeryone e<ually. +on’t play !avorites; it breeds resentment and makes

you appear immature as a leader.

"3. on/t pursue close personal relations,ips +it, t,e team. Be on !riendly

terms, but don’t try to be best !riends with everybody. -ou’re a leader, 4rst and

!oremost.

"". Get t,e team toget,er. :se team1building exercises or other excuses to get

your team members talking with one other and having !un together.

"5. Return faors. "! someone helps you, make it your responsibility to pay back

the !avor 11 even i! it’s years later.

"$. on/t burn bridges. 3ever cut a contact completely out o! your li!e.

"%. tay in touc,. "! team members leave or change roles, stay in contact with

them.

"(. on/t sacri'ce your personal life. -our personal li!e is necessary to retain

your own mental health. 3ever sacri4ce it !or the sake o! leadership or pro!essional

responsibilities.



"*. =n>oy leaders,ip. 0ry not to stress too much about being a leader.

"nstead, en*oy all the bene4ts it oers.

50. a!e adice +it, a grain of salt. 8ven with these $% rules< Because nobody

knows everything, and no one piece o! advice applies to all situations.

ollow these rules, trust your instincts and continually strive !or sel!1improvement.

8ventually, through your experiences and your eorts, you’ll become the type o!

leader most people only aspire to be.



50 rules for being a great leader

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