13 Essential Habits for Every Leader

There’s a leader inside each of us. In fact, you might recognize some of these habits that are already a consistent part of your personal life and career. Check out these 13 essential habits from Business Insider that every leader should strive to implement in their lives. 

1. You Know That Not All of Your Thoughts Need to Be Expressed 
   As a leader, you know it’s not worth offending people by expressing every thought you have, even if it is true. 

2. You Don’t Procrastinate 
   As a leader, you’re not afraid to take action and you show this by not procrastinating. 

3. You Make a Lesson Out of a Failure
   Instead of brooding over a failure, you express gratitude for gaining wisdom from the situation. 

4. You Compliment Others Genuinely 
   You give others genuine and meaningful comments to boost morale and self-confidence, but know to not lay it on too thick.

5. You Give Your Full Attention to the Person You’re Speaking To
   As a leader, you know the importance of being completely present when in a conversation. You make the person you’re speaking to feel like they’re the most important person in the room by listening, asking questions, and giving them your full attention. 

6. You Can Receive Feedback and Constructive Criticism
   As a leader, it’s important to have a trusted person you can go to and receive honest and helpful feedback about your conduct and reputation. This allows you to continue growing and work on areas of yourself you might not have noticed. 

7. You Engage in Good Deeds
   When you’re more focused on others around you than yourself, you’re able to see where you can step in to assist others. This also means you help others without expecting anything in return.

8. You Smile When Speaking to Others
   This may seem trivial, but a smile can go a long way. Smiling during conversations actually helps people lower their guard around you and feel more at ease.

9. You Keep An Open Mind
   As a leader, you don’t put yourself or your team in a box. This allows you to take advantage of personal growth as well as opportunities to advance your career. 

10. You’re Patient With Others
    As a leader, you deal with all sorts of situations that probably make you want to pull your hair out, but you know that patience gets you farther. When dealing with impatient people, your patience in how you speak and react gives you a huge advantage. 

11. You Maintain You’re Composure in Difficult Situations
    You know the importance of not being reactionary. Instead, you opt to choose silence over an outburst of angry words. 

12. You Speak Deliberately and Confidently
    You understand the importance of communicating with a carefully disciplined and friendly tone of voice. 

13. You’re a Positive Influence
    You choose to see the cup half full and encourage others around you to do the same. You’re optimistic even in the middle of what looks to be a terrible situation. 

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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/14-habits-of-the-most-likable-people-2015-8