It’s hard to believe it’s been 43 years since I started my leadership journey! For the past 24 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with leaders in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. It’s been an incredible experience. I discovered five key practices that set predatory leaders apart from life-giving leaders. Embracing these practices transformed my life.
1. Model The Way – Leaders uphold their commitments and establish inspiring principles for how everyone should be treated while pursuing their goals. They set standards of excellence and serve as a guiding light in uncertain times, providing support and creating opportunities for success..
2. Inspire a Shared Vision – Leaders have a strong belief in their ability to make a meaningful impact and envision a bright future for their organization. Through charisma and persuasion, they inspire others to share in their dreams, illustrating the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
3. Challenge the Status Quo – Encourage your team to embrace initiative and experimentation. Effective leaders transform the status quo, experimenting courageously to enhance the organization. They set interim goals to celebrate small victories and dismantle bureaucracy that stifles action. Understanding that risks may lead to mistakes, they see setbacks as valuable lessons, fostering a culture of growth and resilience.
4. Enable Others to Act – Encourage collaboration and strengthen your team. Leaders inspire teamwork and engagement, recognizing that mutual respect fuels extraordinary efforts. By fostering trust and dignity, they empower individuals, making everyone feel capable and valued.
5. Encourage the Heart – Celebrate your team by crediting them for wins. Accomplishing great things requires hard work, and leaders keep hope alive by recognizing individual contributions. In winning teams, everyone shares in the rewards, empowering members to feel like heroes..
Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner’s leadership practices underpin my Trust-Inspired, Purpose-Driven Leadership advisory agency. Their Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership model effectively drives outstanding results across individuals, teams, and organizations. Their book, The Leadership Challenge, 7th edition, was published in 2023.
If you fully commit to and embrace the principles above, your personal and business life will change for the better. I also challenge you to apply the following:
Differentiate YOU
Focus on discovering and embracing your true identity and purpose instead of comparing yourself to others. Living authentically builds trust, encouraging people to engage with your work as consumers or team members.
Maintain Your Purpose, Tweak The Process
Aligning your purpose with the Five Immutable Practices will help you adjust processes to boost sales while better serving your consumers and team members..
Spotlight Your Team.
Ion a world where gaslighting and credit theft are prevalent, recognizing your team and celebrating their achievements will cultivate loyalty that cannot be demanded. Leadership comes in many forms, whether you’re the captain of a sports team, the CEO of a company, a mother, a teenage Bible study leader, or a pastor. No matter your role, it’s never too late to find someone to join you on your journey
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This article was written by Troy Dooly for publication in Home Business Advertiser and will be published in the March/April 2025 issue. If you do not currently subscribe to this publication, CLICK HERE to stay up to date with the publication that is “Your Marketplace for Money Making Ideas & Small Business Opportunities”
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