44 Things Successful Leaders Sometimes Do

Many articles are written about how successful leaders “never” do this and “always” do that. But the truth is that – just like the rest of us -- successful people don’t always or never do anything.

No one is infallible. No one is perfect. No one never makes a mistake, says something they shouldn’t have, acts recklessly or does the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way. What separates successful leaders is the ability to let what they learned in their less-than-perfect moments influence what they do in the future.

Successful leadership comes in many forms. A leader can be effective in terms of achieving desired results without being nice to be around or even particularly smart; likewise, leaders can be smart and kind but still not be effective.

For that matter, your definition of successful leadership may be far different than mine or anyone else’s. For the sake of my list of things successful leaders sometimes do, I’m going to define successful leadership as follows:

Successful Leadership
Someone who has the skills and ability to lead, attracts followers, and provides them with guidance and direction, whose efforts result in success (achieving desired results) and earns something (wealth, position, honor, recognition, etc.) as a consequence.

44 Things Successful Leaders Sometimes Do

Take on responsibilities outside of their job duties.

Limit their focus.

Take a chance on something new.

Eliminate something.

Expand.

Retract.

Step forward to lead.

Step back to follow.

Give someone a second chance.

Believe it when people show them who they are, the first time.

Take a hit for a team member.

Let someone face the consequences.

Broaden target audiences.

Narrow target markets.

Pursue customers others don’t want.

Fire poor quality customers.

Inspire others.

Follow another’s example.

Hold people accountable.

Let things slide.

Take on additional responsibilities.

Give away responsibilities.

Accept an offer.

Decline an offer.

Do it themselves.

Delegate.

Renovate, remodel and update.

Make do.

Extend credit.

Call in favors.

Come in early, stay late.

Come in late, leave early.

Brazen it out.

Admit mistakes.

Push forward.

Wait and see.

Make promises and extend guarantees.

Offer it up on an “as is” basis.

Trust the people they hired.

Trust their own instincts.

Stand up for someone else.

Let people face something alone.

Say yes, even though they're not sure.

Say no, even in the face of persuasive reasons.

“There are no limits.
There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there
– you must go beyond them.”
Bruce Lee

Successful leadership isn’t about following lists of “always” and “nevers.” Great leaders understand that different circumstances call for different strategies. Their options aren’t limited, they’re limitless – and it is this very depth of resources that separates the most successful leaders from the rest.

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Marketing consultant and author Elizabeth Kraus is the marketing manager of business finance company DB Squared Inc., whose portfolio of business financing products includes business cash advance and receivables financing. Her books include 365 Days of Marketing and the 2014 Small Business Marketing Calendar, available on amazon.com.