Outstanding leaders don’t settle for comfort; instead they envision a brighter world and work tirelessly towards making that vision come to fruition.
They set lofty goals that excite their teams, and find ways to recognize and reward progress before reaching a goal.
They understand that any great idea can only be realized with proper execution, so they strive to find strategies which can be replicated and expanded upon.
1. They Focus on the Future
Outstanding leaders have an understanding of their ultimate vision for their life, without becoming sidetracked by petty arguments or instant gratification needs. Instead, they take massive action toward realizing their dreams; even if this means giving up short-term pleasures temporarily. Outstanding leaders know this sacrifice will yield long term gains that outweigh short term satisfactions.
An optimistic yet realistic outlook on the future. They understand that even during tough times there are always ways to make improvements; and are capable of communicating their vision to inspire others regardless of obstacles they encounter.
They also establish the habit of regularly seeking updates and progress reports, to stay ahead of potential problems and implement any needed corrections when they arise. Furthermore, they take time to acknowledge wins big or small so their team feels encouraged and inspired to continue pushing forward. Some might view empathy as soft or weak; but true empathy is an invaluable leadership quality which enables others to collaborate better when understanding how others feel makes collaboration easier.
2. They Don’t Take Setbacks Personal
Outstanding leaders don’t take failure personally and are quick to move past setbacks quickly. Furthermore, they don’t allow themselves to become so self-absorbed that they forget small details about other people; for example, they will remember an employee’s child or favorite hobby; this demonstrates they care for all members of their team, not just bottom lines. This makes everyone feel valued and inspires them to work harder.
Leaders understand that instilling belief is what makes them effective, which explains their ability to outline clear visions and pathways to success while maintaining an approachable demeanor that draws others along on their journey.
They understand they cannot meet everyone’s needs, yet are exceptionally skilled at recognizing and rewarding progress. They don’t wait until a project is finished to celebrate; rather they find ways to motivate their teams throughout. Furthermore, they excel at noting and celebrating small victories such as when someone takes risks or does something unexpected – all helping keep spirits high within the team and encouraging members through challenges.
3. They Don’t Ignore Fear
Unfortunately, some leaders take the approach that they shouldn’t “let their teams see them sweat”. Instead, they put on a mask and tell their teams everything is fine – but these leaders eventually lose trust from their teams and encourage unhealthy behaviors that ultimately have detrimental impacts on business operations.
Outstanding leaders understand that ignoring fear isn’t the solution, so they acknowledge its roots by acknowledging when thoughts or questions stem from anxiety or fear. This step allows them to identify what their fears are about and respond appropriately.
They don’t obsess over all the potential issues, as this would take up too much of their energy and time. Instead, they recognize that some fear can actually help improve performance; the key is recognizing it early enough not to let it paralyze them or cause rash decisions; to accomplish this task they become self-aware and make sure there’s someone there when their fear starts creeping in – this support system ensures they stay grounded when fear starts creeping in.
4. They Have a Plan
Many leaders use the title “leader” to define themselves and suggest they alone are accountable for success. While teamwork may be essential in getting things done, outstanding leaders understand this fact and view themselves as facilitators rather than sole drivers of team success.
Visionaries have a vision and plan, but equally importantly make time to communicate it to their teams. They ensure their lines of communication are open with emailing, texting and calling in order to keep teams updated about any developments or deadlines, which ultimately results in more work being completed on schedule.
Finally, they understand and practice empathy. While this may appear soft or weak, empathy is actually a very strong leadership trait. Empathy allows leaders to understand their employees better while remaining aware of their emotional states so they can provide more support when times get difficult.
They also seek out good news and victories regularly, sharing successes among employees or departments who excel. When projects encounter difficulties, they take time to assess what went wrong so they can better plan for next time.
5. They Don’t Settle for Comfort
Great leaders do not expect their followers to do something they wouldn’t be willing to do themselves, whether that involves telling war stories from their past or swimming laps in the water. Instead, they establish open, approachable environments in which it’s okay to make mistakes without judgement from anyone above them; always willing to jump in when necessary and help out whenever needed.
An effective leader also understands how to regulate negative thinking and focus on their ability to influence. They don’t become paranoid and overanalyze everything that might go wrong – instead, they embrace whatever discomfort exists and understand that things will eventually pass.
As well, they make sure they remain accessible by not letting competing priorities or busy schedules get in the way of spending time with their teams. Knowing that confidence and commitment are keys to building self-belief, these leaders devote themselves to activities which bring them closer to realizing their dreams – often at the cost of short-term pleasure – creating leaders whom others love and remain fiercely devoted. This approach ensures they remain outstanding leaders who inspire admiration among followers.
6. They Sacrifice Short-Term Pleasure for Long-Term Gain
Outstanding leaders understand that in order to reach greatness, massive action must be taken at times at the expense of some pleasure along the way. They know this must be sacrificed if they wish for true greatness to emerge.
These leaders don’t waste their energy thinking of all the ways things could go wrong – doing so wastes too much of their energy, so instead they take an objective view of each situation they face.
They recognize and embrace bad news as part of their jobs, using it to identify red flags indicating projects have gone off course and address issues quickly before they escalate out of control.
These leaders don’t shy away from showing vulnerability and admitting their errors; instead they encourage their team members to do the same as this is how we learn and grow together.
Great leaders often transform failure into success by realizing it is all a matter of perspective. They manage negative thoughts by channeling energy to areas they control and compartmentalizing their work, reminding themselves that this too shall pass and that one setback could lead to tremendous achievements in future endeavors.
7. They Never Stop Learning
Outstanding leaders recognize that although they may reach certain levels of success and feel that they know everything there is still more they can learn. They may read leadership books, attend seminars or conferences, seek mentors or ask advice from other business professionals for further development. Furthermore, learning doesn’t have to take place exclusively within work – they may continue their development outside by reading novels or watching documentaries.
Leaders who never stop learning can help their businesses be more successful by understanding how to enhance current systems, processes, or products; develop new ones; learn from mistakes; recognize what strategies do and do not work; avoid repeating those failures in future endeavors; and take full advantage of opportunities presented to them by technology.
Outstanding leaders also understand the importance of striking a balance between realism and dreaming big. When faced with challenges like demographic shifts, employee resistance to change, or financial barriers – outstanding leaders know how to face them head-on while simultaneously creating an exciting vision that will allow their company to flourish in the future. In doing so, they provide both short-term pleasure and long-term rewards for both their team members and customers.
