If you’ve ever wondered what gives successful leaders an edge, you’re not alone. Christina Desmarais interviewed 24 top executives to find out what habits they attribute to their leadership success. Three habits rose to the top. We broke them down, so you can put them into practice:
- Prioritize your health. Unhealthy eating and lack of exercise correlates to low productivity. Whether you make small changes, such as making a point to floss every night and drink more water throughout the day, or larger ones, like committing to exercise at least five times a week, you’ll be better prepared for challenges at work.
- Stay connected. If you lead from an ivory tower, your view of how your company operates will become distorted. “It is so important that you understand the inner workings of your operation and that you can genuinely appreciate what people do,” Rebecca Hubbard, general manager of the Lotte New York Palace told Inc. Make time for face-to-face interactions with coworkers and partners, and remember that the smallest actions—like simply saying hello and taking an interest in conversation—matter.
- Don’t get stuck. Leadership comes with a lot of responsibility, and it can be easy to get caught up in daily minutiae. Successful leaders push themselves and take risks, according to Desmarais’ research. How can you do the same? Actively expand your network. Learn a new skill. If you visibly challenge yourself as a leader, you’ll inspire your team to do the same.