Explore 14 key leadership habits that enhance team engagement and trust, and learn how to self-assess and improve your leadership style.
Reflect for a moment on the leaders who have truly inspired you. What stood out about them? Often, it's not grand gestures, charisma, or impressive titles. The most compelling leaders consistently demonstrate a set of habits that others can easily emulate in their daily interactions.
Research from Gallup highlights that managers significantly influence team engagement, accounting for at least 70% of its variance. This means that the way leaders behave day in and day out is crucial—and everyone can cultivate impactful habits. Below are 14 habits of followable leaders. Score yourself on each habit, and consider seeking feedback from a trusted colleague for a more comprehensive perspective.
1. Keep Commitments
Trust is built through the consistency of actions, not grand declarations. Followable leaders ensure they keep the small promises they make. This can involve anything from starting meetings on time to following up on inquiries. The essence lies in ensuring that promises are fulfilled without reminders.
Self-Assessment: When I make a small promise, does it happen without a reminder?
2. Own Success and Failures
Leaders should shine a spotlight on their team's efforts while stepping up personally when things go south. Leaders who take responsibility for failures and give credit to their team foster a more cohesive and trusting environment.
Self-Assessment: When something goes wrong, whose name is mentioned first—mine or my team's?
3. Be a Good Coach
The best leaders act as coaches instead of authoritative figures, guiding their teams through questioning instead of telling. By encouraging their teams to think critically and independently, they nurture a more proactive workplace culture.
Self-Assessment: In my last one-on-one, who did most of the talking?
4. Over-Clarify Expectations
Avoiding ambiguity can prevent miscommunications. Effective leaders define success clearly, ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities and prioritizing tasks to avoid confusion.
Self-Assessment: Could every member of my team articulate their top priority in alignment with mine?
5. Provide Timely Feedback
Waiting for annual reviews to give feedback can render it ineffective. The most trusted leaders deliver both positive and constructive feedback timely and in context, helping their teams grow and improve continuously.
Self-Assessment: When was the last time I gave someone specific feedback within a week of an event?
6. Practice Active Listening
Leaders need to move beyond hearing and actually listen. By engaging with their team, asking follow-up questions, and admitting when they have changed their perspective, they build credibility and foster an open dialogue.
Self-Assessment: When did someone on my team last change my mind on a topic?
7. Share Hard Truths
Being transparent about the realities of the business, including difficult news, is crucial. Followable leaders don’t sugarcoat situations; they communicate openly and honestly to build trust with their teams.
Self-Assessment: Does my team hear difficult news from me first, or through others?
8. Champion Recognition
Recognition is an underutilized yet powerful tool in leadership. Acknowledging both visible and invisible contributions can significantly enhance team morale, making members feel valued and appreciated.
Self-Assessment: Have I genuinely recognized each team member in the last two weeks?
9. Admit Mistakes
Admitting when you're wrong sends a powerful message about accountability. It creates an environment where team members feel they can also own up to their mistakes without fear.
Self-Assessment: When did my team last hear me acknowledge a mistake?
10. Explain Decision-Making
Indecision can hinder teams, while effective leaders provide clarity and rationale behind their decisions. It’s essential for team members to understand the reasoning behind choices, particularly unpopular ones.
Self-Assessment: Do I explain the "why" behind my decisions, or just the outcomes?
11. Respect Team Focus
Keeping the team's focus intact is vital for productivity. Followable leaders protect their teams by reducing unnecessary meetings and avoiding scope creep. This respect for their team's time conveys that their efforts are taken seriously.
Self-Assessment: What have I removed from my team's responsibilities recently?
12. Empower Team Members
Effective leaders delegate meaningful tasks, share important opportunities, and encourage their team members to grow. This approach creates a sense of belonging and positions leaders as facilitators of their team's success.
Self-Assessment: Who on my team is ready for more responsibility because of my support?
13. Model Calmness
Leaders set the emotional tone for their teams. Remaining composed in challenging situations encourages team members to approach issues with a problem-solving mindset rather than fear or anxiety.
Self-Assessment: When things go wrong, does my team approach me sooner, or do they hesitate?
14. Ensure Fairness and Equality
Favoritism can disrupt team dynamics. Leaders must be vigilant to ensure that all team members have equal access to opportunities and recognition, fostering a healthy workplace culture.
Self-Assessment: Would each team member say they have equal access to opportunities?
After scoring yourself on these 14 habits, compile your results. This self-assessment is not made for a one-off evaluation; consider revisiting it every six months to track progress and trends in your leadership journey.
Ultimately, while titles may hold temporary sway, it's the consistent application of these 14 habits—coupled with candor and genuine care—that truly rallies people to follow and engage with you. You don't need to master all at once; identify a starting point to put these principles into practice.
For those seeking structured support as they develop these habits, programs like Niagara Institute's Leadership Fundamentals and 1:1 coaching provide frameworks for skill-building and ongoing feedback valuable for everyday leaders.
