The 5 Practices of a Good Leader.

Common sense that if applied daily will give you extraordinary results.

Leadership is a very complex subject. The proof is that dozens, even hundreds of books have been written on the subject. If the subject sells, it is because all leaders ask themselves one day or another how to become a good leaders. This is indeed the question to ask when you want to be a true leader.

I don't pretend to be a rocket scientist on the subject, but it seems to me that there are at least 5 basic practices that you must follow to be a good leader. Be careful, because being a good leader is something that requires a daily requirement.

Just because you were a good leader one day does not mean that you will be a good leader in a new assignment with a new team. It all depends on you and your ability to keep the same high standards in your practices.

1. Lead by example

Effective leaders set an example for others. A small example: no one on a team will turn in their timesheets on time if the leader who asks for them doesn't do so as well. But think bigger, because it's not just about timesheets. Your character is on display, and the more you walk the talk, the more likely others are to follow your lead.

2. Inspire a shared vision

Leaders create a picture of how life could be different/better by achieving goals. They do this in a way that elicits an emotional response from their people. People don't follow leaders based on good ideas alone. These ideas must resonate at a deeply personal level to lead to action.

Inspiring a shared vision is not easy, but it is key.

3. Challenge the process

Leaders take risks. They experiment. They make strategic choices with incomplete information. And they learn from their mistakes. Never be ashamed to admit your mistakes to your colleagues. They will respect you even more if you can recognize when you are wrong and then learn from it and adapt.

4. Allow others to act

Leaders encourage collaboration among their team members. They build trust. They cement relationships. And they help remove barriers to moving forward.

A leader is successful when every member of his or her team is empowered to do the best he or she can. A leader's success is measured by the success of each member of his team.

5. Encourage the heart

Leaders generously recognize the goal-oriented behaviors of their team members. They reward them intrinsically - with respect, with sincere and genuine praise, with recognition. They nurture hope. They foster mutual respect for individuals, which in turn fuels many of the above practices.

Final Thoughts

For years, these practices seemed alien to the DNA of most corporate leaders. And then, over time, we've seen the corporate world evolve along with the world. New generations want more. They are not inspired by an authoritarian leader who loves to abuse his power.

Being a good leader requires much more. Recent research clearly shows that the 5 practices I have just revealed maximize your chances of being a good leader. It helps everyone to grow while giving the best for the collective. Everyone benefits when everyone plays the game.

The good news is that these 5 practices will foster the work environment that Millennials and Gen Z want to grow into for the long haul at a company. If you simply focus your attention on these few ideas, you'll get amazing results.