In today’s fast-paced business environment, leaders often focus on grand strategies and bold initiatives, overlooking the foundational behaviors that shape their success. It’s easy to rationalize small missteps, telling ourselves they don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. However, our research paints a different picture. When we analyzed 60 distinct leadership behaviors, we identified seven seemingly minor actions that yield outsized impacts on a leader’s overall effectiveness.

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Leaders often focus on high-level strategies but overlook minor behaviors that shape their effectiveness. Research on over 4,300 leaders shows that small missteps—like failing to follow through or neglecting feedback—can significantly damage credibility and trust.

When leaders fail to model the behaviors they expect from others, it creates a culture of inconsistency and mistrust. Simple actions, like keeping commitments and following rules, set the tone for an accountable and high-performing team.

Avoiding difficult conversations or sugarcoating feedback leads to confusion and stagnation. Effective leaders give both constructive and positive feedback regularly, ensuring that employees are aligned and empowered to improve.

Leadership isn’t just about setting expectations—it’s about inspiring action. Leaders who bring energy and enthusiasm to work create an environment where teams are motivated, engaged, and more likely to perform at a high level.

The best leaders continuously seek feedback and remain open to learning, regardless of experience level. Research shows that those who actively ask for feedback maintain higher effectiveness throughout their careers, while those who stop learning tend to decline in leadership impact.

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7 Minor Leadership Behaviors That Determine Your Success– Article by Joe Folkman

The post Episode 155: The 7 Minor Leadership Behaviors That Actually Determine Your Success first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.