How Successful Leaders Maintain Their Edge - 16 Proven High-Performance Habits REVEALED!
How Successful Leaders Maintain Their Edge - 16 Proven High-Performance Habits REVEALED!
Do you want to know how successful leaders maintain their edge? Are you looking for ways to make yourself more productive and successful? You are in luck! We're about to explore 16 proven habits that have been used time and time again by successful leaders around the globe. Keeping an edge is more manageable than it might seem; if you incorporate these basics into your life and business plan, you'll be five steps ahead within no time. So strap in, and let's begin our journey toward maintaining exceptional performance!
If we haven't met, hi, my name is Felecia! I'm a Certified High-Performance Success Coach and Business & Life Strategist! I love to help overwhelmed, stressed-out ambitious, high-achieving women maximize their time, energy, productivity, and influence so they can be present and intentional with the vital aspects of their life.
I do this through proven science-backed and outcome-based high-performance strategies, routines, habits, and mindset shifts that are simple, sustainable, and fun.
Being a high-performing leader means you can rise above and beyond expectations, no matter the challenges that come your way. Creating success requires mastering the ability to manage your mind, harness your emotions, and effectively utilize your time. High performers take it one step further by pushing themselves and their team higher each day to ensure they achieve excellence in everything they do. Brendon Burchard defines 'high performance' (as achieving "above and beyond standard norms over the long-term"); high-performing leaders tap into the potential of those around them, propelling everyone towards greatness and creating a ripple effect in organizational success.
1. High-Performing Leader Habit: Taking initiative and decisive actions on key priorities.
"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage to say no to other things." Stephen R. Covey
Decision-making, no matter how small or large the decision, is essential for any leader; having the courage and skill to move forward with a plan of action shows not only leadership capability but respect for the ability to learn from experience. Taking initiative and decisive actions on key priorities is a habit of a high-performing leader. Being proactive- in response to an expected and unexpected challenge- is vital to successful goal achievement. Taking initiative should go beyond reaction; empowered leaders identify opportunities and act upon them before they become part of a larger problem. When you take that extra step, it can change your outcome! So be bold --don't wait for others to create your path, because by taking initiative and decisive actions on key priorities, you can show yourself and those around you what you are made of as a high-performing leader.
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2. High-Performing Leader Habit: Get In The Zone Through Meditation & Reflection
"Meditation is the grand means of our growth in grace; without it, prayer itself is an empty service." Charles Simeon
High-performing leaders understand that getting into "the zone" is one of the keys to success. To achieve this laser-like focus, many high-performing leaders take time out of their day for meditation or reflective practices. Whether taking a nature walk, journaling your thoughts and feelings, or focusing on mindful breathing techniques, a little time spent in self-reflection can go a long way in helping you crystalize your ideas and make them a reality. So if you want to level up and get ahead of the game, don't forget to carve out time to look inward – it could be the difference between dreaming and achieving success!
3. High-Performing Leader Habit: Explicitly and Clearly Communicate Expectations
"Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity." Nat Turner
A high-performing leader always ensures that communication is crystal clear. Expectations - standards, benchmarks, and goals - need to be communicated in such a way that everyone knows their role without a shadow of a doubt. If a leader can effectively communicate expectations with confidence, clarity, and an empowering tone, it's a surefire recipe for success! It's also essential that this clear communication doesn't just happen once; continuous check-ins should occur to ensure everyone involved is on the same page and aligned. A great leader should never assume people will figure out what's expected of them without guidance. When expectations are laid out in the open, everyone's better equipped to do the job right and produce amazing results!
4. High-Performing Leader Habit: Developing a winning mindset and staying focused on the end goal.
"The difference in winning and losing is most often... Not quitting." Walt Disney
High-performing leaders know that success starts inside: the right mindset and focused attention on the outcome will make all the difference. It's not always easy, but having that winning way of thinking is essential to achieving outstanding results. Developing mental toughness, a positive attitude, and a clear path to your mission will give you an edge over the competition. Commitment to excellence and perseverance are just two of many strategies high-performing leaders use to stay ahead - so put your game face on and get out there! Remember, developing a winning mindset and going after what you want with confidence and determination only takes one small step in the right direction.
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5. High-Performing Leader Habit: Being resilient and adapting quickly to changes in the environment.
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It's the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill
Being a high-performing leader means being ready, willing, and able to adapt to the changing environment. Adaptability is a crucial trait; it isn't enough to understand change; leaders must also be resilient in implementing those changes. To that end, practice flexing your resilience muscle – recognize when something doesn't go as planned and adjust accordingly while maintaining a can-do attitude that empowers the team. This quality will enable you to overcome any challenge with speed and assurance. Leaders who learn how to plan for change and embrace it are invaluable to an organization and valuable mentors for their team.
6. High-Performing Leader Habit: Utilizing creativity to find unique solutions and approaches to problems.
"There is a creative solution to every problem. Every possibility holds the promise of abundance." Deepak Chopra
There's nothing quite as satisfying as finding the perfect solution to a tricky problem. But the best high-performing leaders don't shy away from unique approaches to tackle complex issues - they use creativity to find different ways of attacking problems, leveraging their deep well of expertise and experience. By embracing creative problem-solving, these leaders remain far ahead of the competition, steady in their pursuit of excellence. It's no surprise that their visionary leadership brings successful outcomes time and time again: after all, creative solutions often result in powerful, innovative outcomes.
7. High-Performing Leader Habit: Invest in coaching and professional development
"A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life." John Wooden
High-performing leaders understand that expertise must evolve. Investing in coaching and professional development is vital to staying ahead of the competition, treating your team well, and reaching any given goal. Leaders with a growth mindset recognize the value of reading books on leadership or enrolling in professional courses and actively engaging with perspectives outside their own. Taking the leap to invest their precious time, money, and energy into developing thoughtfully ensures growth for themselves and their team. As such, a leader who invests in mastering the craft of leadership has greater potential to reach new heights that far surpass the limits set by themselves.
8. High-Performing Leader Habit: Working smarter, not harder, by automating processes or delegating tasks.
"Delegate - work smarter, not harder; do what you do best and drop the rest; get control of your calendar; do what you love because it will give you energy; work with people you like so your energy isn't depleted." John Maxwell
High-Performing Leaders understand how to work smarter, not harder—automating processes and delegating tasks. These methods save time and energy; with automation, projects can be done faster than ever, and delegated tasks can lighten your workload without sacrificing quality or accuracy. A high-performing leader doesn't just think outside the box—they look for innovative ways within it too! Utilizing these two habits requires organization and discipline, but once mastered, it will lead to increased productivity and improved efficiency, empowering you to reach new heights of success.
9. High-Performing Leader Habit: Maintaining a positive attitude and outlook no matter the circumstance.
"Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude." Lou Holtz
Having a positive attitude and outlook, no matter the situation, is essential for high-performing leaders. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and down during challenging times, but that's when having a bright outlook can make all the difference. A positive attitude can change how you process information and tap into new levels of creativity. Maintaining an upbeat attitude will help you reach your goals and put those around you in a better frame of mind, ultimately leading to improved work product and performance across the board. In essence, good things are more likely to happen with an atmosphere of positivity and optimism!
10. High-Performing Leader Habit: Developing strong relationships with team members and stakeholders.
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." Phil Jackson
The first habit of high-performing leaders is developing strong relationships with their teams and stakeholders. This doesn't mean throwing a party for everyone and calling it a day; strong relationships come from going the extra mile over time. Foster trust by building integrity across the organization, listening to hear what others are saying and acting upon it, providing support and expertise where needed, showing respect for different opinions, and disagreeing without being disagreeable. The rewards will be felt throughout the team - more collaboration, better results, and stronger relationships. So, to be an effective leader, start by investing in relationship-building within your team. It's a surefire route to success!
11. High-Performing Leader Habit: Showing empathy, understanding, and respect for others.
"Looking at various means of developing compassion, I think empathy is an important factor, the ability to appreciate others' suffering." Dalai Lama
One of the most crucial habits a high-performing leader must possess is empathy, understanding, and respect toward others. Empathy is essential to high-performing leaders; it builds relationships and enables them to become effective influencers who promote positive changes within their support teams. Understanding your team and colleagues' perspectives and acknowledging their feelings will create a greater sense of appreciation and trust; this strengthens team morale and motivates collaboration among team members. When you show empathy, employees will feel more comfortable approaching you with criticism and suggestions. This understanding allows for fruitful conversations that can lead to innovative solutions, which ultimately help the company's progress.
12. High-Performing Leader Twelve: Habit Avoid Burnout by Developing Self-Care Habits
"It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself." Diane Von Furstenberg
Healthy self-care habits can do wonders for creativity, productivity, and peace of mind. Good self-care habits can be the secret weapon of a high-performing leader, preventing them from burning out and reaching peak productivity. To that end, one practical necessity is learning to rest as it helps to replenish our energy. Working too hard without breaks leads to burnout and fatigue, impairing our decision-making, focus, and performance. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge when it's time for a mental health break by recognizing the signs of fatigue - such as more frequent procrastination or suddenly perfecting Netflix binges - and making time for restorative activities like deep breathing exercises, yoga, or even just unplugging from technology for an hour.
13. High-Performing Leader Habit Thirteen: Staying organized and prepared by setting aside time for planning and review.
"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning." Thomas Edison
As a leader, it's so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day tasks of your profession and forget that organization and preparation are key ingredients to success. Staying organized and prepared helps you to prioritize the most critical tasks, understand the big picture and identify opportunities for staff development. Planning weekly, monthly, or even quarterly goals can be a great way to stay focused on the end result and guide your team toward achieving them. Setting aside regular times for review also helps ensure they remain on track within their objectives; making sure any wrong turns are addressed before they become major events is essential. So don't waste time - jump into this high-performing leader habit: staying organized and prepared.
14. High-Performing Leader Habit Fourteen: Invest In Teams For Optimal Outputs
"We should invest in people, not ideas. A good idea is often destroyed by bad people, and good people can always make a bad idea better." Simon Sinek
Investing in your team is one of the key habits of successful leadership; together, you can achieve more! High-performing leaders understand that the output of their organization sits on the shoulders of teams. With this in mind, they invest heavily in providing their teams with the tools and knowledge they need to perform at an optimal level. By cultivating a culture of trust, fairness, and open dialogue amongst employees, these leaders create a sense of empowerment and ownership over their individual roles, allowing their organizations to reach new levels of excellence. Furthermore, by taking the time to recognize employees for a job well done and providing feedback when necessary, high-performing leaders ensure that all team members are inspired to give it their all through each project.
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15. High-Performing Leader Habit Fifteen: Take breaks to recharge and refocus throughout the day.
"Taking time to rest, renew and refresh yourself isn't wasted time. Recharge. Choose what energizes you." Melody Beattie
As a high-performing leader, taking regular breaks throughout the day can help you recharge, refocus, and create an even sharper mindset. Consider it an opportunity to provide your body and mind with a bit of much-needed time away from anything work-related so you can work smarter, better, and faster when you come back. Research shows that taking regular breaks can make you more productive overall – yet many of us continue to routinely overlook this tip in favor of plowing through hours at a time! Take note of high-performing leaders - if you want to go the extra mile, it's worth investing in your recovery.
16. High-Performing Leader Habit Sixteen: Celebrate successes, big and small, to maintain motivation and morale.
"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." Oprah Winfrey
Celebrating big and small successes is crucial to maintaining motivation and morale in a high-performing leadership setting. After all, acknowledging even the slightest victory pumps up the team's competitive spirit and gives everyone involved a much-needed boost of confidence. And when everyone within an organization feels valued and appreciated for their efforts, it can turn the most daunting task into an enjoyable challenge. So why not celebrate successes as integral to every leader's success strategy? It certainly won't hurt -quite the contrary, so let's take a moment to raise our voices (even if it's just in thought) and give ourselves a well-earned pat on the back for a job well done.
Bottomline:
After engaging the 16 proven, high-performance habits revealed in this article, you’ll have all the tools necessary to become a successful leader. Not only will you be able to activate a productive business plan and maintain an eager edge, but industry experts believe that taking these steps can help increase prosperity as well. Employing unwavering discipline, staying creative and humble to stay relevant and desirable, investing in yourself and your development as well as actively working towards achieving business goals are key components of being a top-tier leader. There is no one secret recipe for success; everyone has their own path, but one thing is certain: those who strive to reach their fullest potential are those that make strides in the wellness of their business. If you're ready to take control over your personal leadership journey and create positive momentum, let’s connect! Schedule your complimentary High-Performance Strategy Session today, so I can support you in reaching greater heights and maintaining peak performance.
P.S. Need additional support in living a high-performance productive life. Grab my Level Up and Thrive EASY Checklist.
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