15 things the most successful leaders do–every day

According to a story that appears on forbes.com by Linkage Thought Leader Series presenter Glenn Llopis, “The most successful leaders are instinctual decision makers. Having done it so many times throughout their careers, they become immune to the pressure associated with decision making and extremely intuitive about the process of making the most strategic and best decisions. This is why most senior executives will tell you they depend strongly upon their ‘gut-feel’ when making difficult decisions at a moment’s notice.

“Beyond decision making, successful leadership across all areas becomes learned and instinctual over a period of time. Successful leaders have learned the mastery of anticipating business patterns, finding opportunities in pressure situations, serving the people they lead and overcoming hardships. No wonder the best CEOs are paid so much money…

“If you are looking to advance your career into a leadership capacity and/or already assume leadership responsibilities—here are 15 things you must do automatically, every day, to be a successful leader in the workplace:

• Make Others Feel Safe to Speak-Up

“Many times leaders intimidate their colleagues with their title and power when they walk into a room. Successful leaders deflect attention away from themselves and encourage others to voice their opinions. They are experts at making others feel safe to speak-up and confidently share their perspectives and points of view. They use their executive presence to create an approachable environment.

• Make Decisions

“Successful leaders are expert decision makers. They either facilitate the dialogue to empower their colleagues to reach a strategic conclusion or they do it themselves. They focus on “making things happen” at all times–decision making activities that sustain progress. Successful leaders have mastered the art of politicking and thus don’t waste their time on issues that disrupt momentum. They know how to make 30 decisions in 30 minutes.”

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Now, it’s your turn. Tell us, what comes naturally to you as a leader? On the flipside, what do you struggle with and what steps are you taking to improve?

More about Glenn

Glenn Llopis is the Founder of the Center for Hispanic Leadership and the Center for Innovation and Humanity. He is the author of Earning Serendipity: 4 Skills for Creating and Sustaining Good Fortune in Your Work. The son of Cuban immigrants who were victims of Castro’s revolution, Glenn combines an immigrant’s perspective, and a UCLA education, with fast-tracked years at the Gallo Wine Company and Sunkist where he became the youngest senior manager in the company’s 100-year history. Click here to learn more about Glenn’s upcoming Thought Leader Series broadcast.