What Makes a Successful Leader?

If you took some of the world’s most successful leaders and dropped them all into completely new situations, some would be able to pivot while others simply wouldn’t (as the pandemic has readily shown us).

Successful leaders set up systems of accountability that apply to everyone, including themselves. They take responsibility for their actions and the consequences that occur as a result. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “to err is human.” It would be irrational for any leader to expect perfection from their staff or themselves personally. In my experience, successful leaders don’t dwell on mistakes. Instead, they focus on developing action plans to mitigate the consequences of their mistakes. 

Leaders who are accountable help foster trust within the organization. A survey done by PWC noted that a staggering 55% of CEOs believe a lack of trust undermines organizational growth. Employees who work under accountable leaders are confident that they will not be thrown under the bus, which also helps strengthen the relationships within the organization. Strong relationships within an organization lead to close knit social ties, greater job satisfaction, and ultimately reduced turnover. 

I have also noticed that successful leaders are often perceptive of their immediate and external surroundings and reactive to what they observe. Perception in this instance refers to having the ability to discern situations for what they are instead of making assumptions. Good leaders take in information and adapt how they act in different situations. 

Being perceptive makes a leader more considerate of the needs of their subordinates. Little things like remembering the pronunciation of an employee’s name or calling them by their correct pronouns can go a long way in building loyalty within your staff. Perceptive leaders also tend to be more empathetic. They have regard for the emotional and mental well-being of their subordinates. This can show up as giving employees time off during religious holidays or just being respectful of the way they handle issues on a day-to-day basis. People who work under perceptive leaders look forward to coming to work. They are more motivated and less likely to call in sick, increasing productivity.

One consistent thread among the most successful leaders is that they’re purposeful in nature. They know that employees will be more willing to do certain tasks when they’ve been given a reason why it’s being done. When they make decisions for the organization to do something there’s always a reason for it. Nothing is done just for the sake of doing it. 

Reasons don’t have to be profound or philosophical. It’s enough that a leader simply has a defensible reason for doing something. For example, they might instruct an employee to organize the filing cabinet. When you ask why, they could give the reason that they want to ensure the information is up-to-date. This is a perfectly reasonable explanation. What would happen if they just said it needed to be done and couldn’t give any real reason why? Working for works’ sake diminishes employee morale. 

While, there is no definitive measuring stick that determines successful leadership. In my experience, leaders who have the greatest positive impact on their organizations tend to have some combination of these and other core values that they adhere to. These values help them navigate difficult situations and achieve the best outcomes more often than not.