How High-Performing Leaders Stay On Top

Strong leaders are the key to any successful endeavour, from running a multinational business to organizing a massively impactful grassroots movement. In addition to possessing intellect, experience, and vision, the most notable leaders have the ability to sustain their influence over years and decades. 

Achieving longevity in leadership is no easy feat. Authority takes time to build, but like trust, it can be lost in an instant. Effective leaders must be adaptable and responsive to maintain their positions. Likewise, leaders need to have the emotional and mental stamina to navigate challenge after challenge. 

While any type of leader can establish a durable legacy, those who are most successful in their work often display the following traits:

They never stop learning

Respected leaders often live by the mantra, “if you stop learning, you stop growing.” Some of the most high-profile leaders of our time, including Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson spend hours every day devoted to reading. However, books are not the ways great leaders seek out and absorb information.

The most successful leaders recognize that all experiences and interactions can serve as a learning opportunity. While most people assume that only experts and industry insiders are the only people they can learn from, true leaders know that every person’s perspective is valuable. For this reason, effective leaders frequently seek input and feedback from all stakeholders, including entry-level employees and customers. 

Further, high-performing leaders are able to learn and apply lessons from areas beyond their own industry or expertise. The Harvard Business Review noted how leadership at an overwhelmed hospital in London successfully applied transition techniques used by Formula 1 pit crews in their patient turnover processes. 

Leaders with the willingness and open-mindedness to learn from unorthodox sources are better equipped to respond to unexpected challenges and maintain their longevity. 

They are excellent listeners

Naturally, leaders need to be able to give direction and communicate their vision in order to achieve their goals. At the same time, excellent leadership also requires the ability to listen and accept constructive criticism from others. People are also more receptive to leaders who make an effort to understand their perspectives.  Since few leaders can be categorized as good listeners, having this trait can greatly contribute to a leader’s staying power. 

Leaders who are also superior listeners enter conversations with curiosity and empathy. They ask follow-up questions and refrain from passing judgment or forcing their ideas on others. 

Team members led by leaders with well-developed listening skills are more likely to report feeling respected and valued. These attributes align with engagement, commitment, and low turnover, which are all essential for running a highly competitive organization. 

They take care of their health

Being a leader can be extremely stressful. More than half of people in leadership roles are at risk of burnout, an occupational condition caused by chronically high-stress levels. Leaders who overexert themselves may also develop harmful habits, such as skipping sleep or working beyond their office hours.

Individuals working in high-stress jobs are at an increased risk of developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes. Relatedly, turning to poor coping mechanisms such as drinking or smoking to relieve stress can increase susceptibility to several types of cancers. 

Leaders who want to continue their positions for years to come must make healthy lifestyle changes and incorporate self-care into their daily life. Eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, and scheduling preventative screenings, such as a fit colon test, can lower the risk of chronic illness. Leaders can also maintain mental clarity and manage their stress by establishing thick boundaries between their work and home lives, taking frequent breaks, and delegating tasks to other team members. 

They follow systems

Top-level leaders must juggle multiple responsibilities while overseeing several projects at a time. To do this effectively, leaders must implement robust systems to structure their processes and maximize their productivity.

For example, leaders should implement evaluation systems to measure and analyze important metrics. The most impactful leaders also ensure there are systems in place to identify and develop staff and employees with leadership potential. 

While systems are helpful for streamlining processes, excellent leaders are also aware that an over-reliance on structure and procedure can be rigid and stifling. Leaders at successful agile companies know that the best systems are dynamic and ever-improving.