Recently, I was asked to identify the daily habits of effective leaders. It was a great question and it caused me to reflect upon my observations and experiences of the leaders with whom I’ve worked.

This is what I’ve seen and what I’ve learned. Committing to these 5 practices enables leaders to give their best each day to themselves, to their work and to their lives.

1. They create clarity.

Clarity shouldn’t be confused with certainty. Not even the most stellar leaders know what will happen next and one could argue that the level of uncertainty leaders deal with today is unprecedented. Aiming for certainty is futile. Aiming for clarity is necessary.

Clarity enables leaders to focus on the work that matters most. It informs what they will say “no” to and “yes” to. It helps them know how to allocate the finite amount of time we have.

Clarity also gives their team focus as they have clear goals as well as context about why those goals are important. Clarity helps teams to understand their purpose, their roles in fulfilling that purpose and what they can expect from each other. It also helps meetings and 1-1 discussions be productive because people know why they are meeting and what decisions need to be made.

Effective leaders spend time and effort creating clarity for themselves and for others.

2. They put their own “oxygen masks” on first and look after their well-being.

The 2023 Workforce Institute Mental Health At Work study, found that almost half (46%) of managers surveyed say it’s likely they will quit their jobs because of work-related stress. How organizations foster well-being at all levels is getting more attention and it needs to. There are many systemic factors that make work-place stress levels better or worse. Similarly, one’s individual responses to workplace challenges can also make situations better or worse. Effective leaders intentionally ensure they have self-care practices, meaningful to them, incorporated into their life. These are practices that help them to stay fit, alert, and calm and they set boundaries around their time to protect these practices. Examples include healthy eating, adequate sleep, rest, and exercise and being attentive to their life outside of work.

3. They give themselves time to reflect.

Different work requires different thinking. Perhaps it is to consider an emerging strategy, reflect on current challenges, attend to their own development, or prepare for an important meeting. Whatever it may be, it is time to think and reflect upon what is important, yet not urgent.

Sometimes, time must reserved for deeper thinking. This type of work requires focus, creativity and reflection. However, reflection that can be done in small amounts, throughout each day, should not be underestimated. Reflection provides a chance to stand back and consider intentions for the day, what went well, what didn’t and what adjustments need to be made. Reflection is often a space where additional leadership development and personal growth occurs.

4. They get team members’ views first before they give their own.

Effective leaders ask more questions than they answer, and they listen to the answers. Their interest in others is genuine and their questions prompt insight, involvement, and development.  Their ability to be present, and curious, demonstrates their respect for others. As stated by Edgar and Peter Schein, in Humble Inquiry, “Trust builds for each person because each has shown an interest in and paid attention to what the other person said in response to each question.”

5. They give, and discuss, candid and respectful feedback, frequently.

Because others know they care, there is a level of trust that enables others to be receptive to feedback, whatever it may be. Effective leaders are consistently scanning for opportunities to help others do better and will say what they think directly and respectfully. Their feedback helps to keep teams engaged and achieve their results and they actively seek out opportunities daily to reinforce the behaviors in their teams they want to see and address behaviors they don’t.

How do these five characteristics line up with your experience? As a leader, what do you do daily that has helped you to be effective?