Leadership Thought #290 – 15 Easy Things You Can Do to Improve as a Leader

As a leader, personal growth and development don’t always require strenuous labor or demanding tasks. Here are fifteen easy things you can do right away to improve your performance and results:

1. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual and stick to a regular bedtime; sleep matters.
2. Make a conscious effort to eat healthier and always have a nutritious breakfast; the fuel you put in your body makes an enormous difference.
3. Exercise 20-30 minutes per day, including stretching; a healthier body = a healthier mind.
4. Smile more often and greet people with enthusiasm; people want to feel liked and are attracted to positive energy.
5. Say ‘please” and ‘thank you;” courtesy is always better than the alternative.
6. Ask more questions and give fewer lectures; you don’t have all the answers, and people want to feel listened to.
7. When in doubt, delegate; trust that other people can get the job done, and if they stumble, treat it as a learning experience.
8. Only check your email 3x per day at set times during the day and leave a message letting people know this; don’t become an email junkie.
9. Clearly define success and manage 5-7 Key Performance Indicators; stay focused on the most important metrics.
10. Use a “to-do” list to manage your time every day. Strive to always focus on your top five priority action items.
11. Schedule daily blocks of undisturbed thinking time and, if necessary, do this out of the office; don’t get bogged down in hyperactivity.
12. Please ensure to meet or have a phone conversation with at least one client per week to maintain a close connection with your customers.
13. Have weekly 1-1 meetings with your direct reports and meet with your management team biweekly; keep everyone on the same page and coach them accordingly.
14. Read for personal growth or professional development at least 15-20 minutes per day; keep your brain sharp.
15. Keep a professional diary and journal for 5-10 minutes each night; regularly debrief on your day and how it went.

This list may seem overwhelming, but it is not. Start with a few items and then add others as you make progress. I assure you that the more of these items you adopt, the better your leadership results will be.