6 Habits That Will Make You A Better Leader

Leadership is measured by outcomes. To increase your leadership success you must grow your competence and consistency in pursuing priority goals. Goals are only achievable if you back them up with the right set of habits. Habits that will help you cultivate and sustain the discipline needed to strategize and execute effectively. Habits have a controlling influence on the results leaders get, therefore, they should be intentional about developing the enabling set of habits. If you want to be a better leader then focus on cultivating and sustaining the right habits. Here are some of the habits that will make you a better leader

Proactiveness

A lot will change in the results that most leaders get if they become proactive. Proactiveness is about being future-oriented in your behavior towards people, goals, and work. Proactive leaders don't wait for change to happen before choosing their response, rather they anticipate future change and use that as a benchmark to create simulated scenarios that will help them gain the insight that enables them to determine the best course of action. Leaders who make proactiveness a part of their habits stay ahead of the curve in competitiveness, motivation, and profit. Proactivity is about being responsive and not reactive to trends and change. 

Empathy

Empathy is impossible without value for people. Empathic leaders seek the interest of the business as well as the well-being of their employees. Empathy is about treating people in a way that demonstrates you understand where they are coming from. Great leaders do not value goals or profit over people. They always seek to put themselves in the other person's shoes before coming up with a decision.  In that way, they make thoughtful decisions that emphasize the value the organization places on employee well-being. Empathic leaders being aware of their shortcomings are tolerant of other people's imperfections. Instead of exaggerating their people's flaws, they help them grow, mature and overcome. Moreso,  people want leaders who truly understand them and can relate to their challenges. When you intentionally become that leader, your people will be willing to put in their best.

Gratitude

Even though your team is not where it should be yet but you are grateful for the journey so far and are truly appreciative of the contributions and sacrifices of all the stakeholders. That is what gratitude means. Great leaders are grateful people. They feel the discomfort associated with the" ups and downs" of the business but prefer to focus on the progress made while planning for a better result. Gratitude is one of the traits of great leaders.  Grateful Leaders are full of contagious positive energy and it inspires those around them to commit more to group success. Also, a grateful leader does not take all the credit for the group's success. He recognizes and rewards the effort of others thereby giving them a sense of self-worth that primes them for greater conquest. Gratefulness compels a leader to be extravagant in their praise and encouragement of team members.  This is because they truly appreciate the odds against their people in the light of the group goal. 

Openness

Somehow most executives box themselves into a corner by believing that as a leader they must have all the answers. A leader should be comfortable with seeking answers from other sources. Openness is being able to come to terms with the fact that the solutions may not always reside in you thus making the input of other people imperative. An open leader appreciates other people's peculiarities and therefore is more likely to manage a diverse organization successfully. He can recognize and yield to a superior argument increasing the chances of superlative group performance. Whether in problem-solving or value creation, openness helps a leader to increase productivity.  Through fairness and inclusiveness, enable more people to bring their diverse talents and skills to the table for the benefit of the organization. An open-minded leader is open to new ideas and criticism and he utilizes them to improve himself. 

Authenticity

Authentic leaders are values-driven. Their strong sense of character is visible to all.  They only ever choices that align with their personal beliefs and convictions. Authentic leaders are genuine, transparent, and ethical in behavior.  They are inclusive and encourage the open sharing of information.  Today’s people are inspired by leaders who are bold to publicly accept their flaws and mistakes. Leaders who do not pretend to be superhuman. People want their leader to be real, honest, brave, and willing to roll up their sleeves and put in the work. 

Learning 

Learning is a  powerful tool for the achievement of success. Learning illuminates the mind and takes away one's ignorance and helps one build a personal profile of competence and confidence. Learning expands your horizon and eliminates ignorance. If you can deal with your ignorance you have eliminated your probability of failure to a large extent. Ignorance is a major reason behind most failures. continuous learning brings about continuous growth. It improves your creativity and capacity for problem-solving. 

Finally, if you consciously cultivate a habit around the aforementioned capabilities you will gain the respect, cooperation, admiration, and loyalty of your people. You will naturally become a better leader. The kind of leader people would want to follow.