BY PETER ECONOMY @BIZZWRITER

Today's most successful leaders didn't get that way by accident. They learned and applied the habits of others who came before them. You can too.

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Becoming a successful leader requires more than just hard work. Truly outstanding leaders cause their passions and enthusiasm to set a charge into their organizations.

Let your passion be a part of who you are as a leader. Lead with both your head and your heart. Be a leader who is:

1. Confident but not arrogant

Great leaders are self-assured and very confident in themselves. Employees are naturally drawn to them, as they impart a strong sense of self-confidence. You know you possess this type of confidence when you don't shy away from challenges. Your confidence conveys a sense of calm during turbulent times, and great leaders do not waver once they commit to a course of action.

2. A persuasive communicator

There is little doubt that great leaders communicate persuasively. They have a knack for imparting the right messages at the right time. Strive to deliver messages that inspire, motivate, reassure, and, when required, direct. When you stir an idle organization into action with your communication, you have communicated persuasively, passionately, and honestly.

3. Sensitive and responsive to others

Great leaders are sensitive and have an intuitive feel for the needs of their people. They understand what drives their employees and demonstrate genuine concern for their welfare. Think about the people in your organization and consider yourself a guardian for their well-being and success.

4. Determined

Great leaders see things through to completion. They simultaneously track what may appear to be insignificant details and keep the larger picture in mind. They monitor anything they believe helps them achieve their goals. They don't give up easily when things don't go their way. See your projects through to completion unless you have a compelling reason not to.

5. Supportive

Great leaders are genuinely concerned for the health and welfare of the people who make up their organizations. They guide their people through challenges, always on the lookout for solutions to foster long-term success. When you help a top employee come up with a modified work schedule to help him get through personal challenges with his marriage, and you don't burden others in the process, you're being supportive of both your employee and your organization.

6. Distinguished

Leaders develop a unique sense of professionalism about their image, their actions, and their communication. They conduct themselves in a way that sets them apart from their employees, yet, in spite of this separation, they still draw respect and admiration from them. To distinguish yourself as a manager, lead by example. Dress professionally, be knowledgeable about your entire organization, and when you speak, speak intelligently. When you've cultivated your own managerial image and become comfortable with it, you'll know, because you'll walk the walk and talk the talk of a manager without feeling self-conscious about it.

7. Responsible

Leaders take responsibility for their people's performance. When things are going well, they praise efforts publicly. When things require attention or blocking issues arise, they find ways to fix things quickly and get things back on track. When you can do this without singling out people for errors, or assigning blame to others in order to avoid taking responsibility yourself, you're being a responsible leader.

8. An Optimist

Passionate leaders are a source of GO. They seem to invigorate others easily, and they enthusiastically dive into most things with calculated recklessness. Your optimism, if genuine, can liven up the workplace. Avoid reckless and thoughtless actions, but do look for ways to passionately stimulate and energize people and make work enjoyable for you and your team. You'll know when this happens, as things will get done and work will seem fun.

9. Honest

Great leaders are honest people. They genuinely treat people how they like to be treated, because they respect themselves and take others' feelings into consideration. Do you strongly believe honesty and ethical behavior form the foundation of success? If so, you too can join the ranks of other outstanding leaders who manage very successful organizations.

10.
Organized and together

Planning requires thought. Great leaders organize and plan ahead. Although thinking through various scenarios and possible impacts requires analytical thinking skills, plan so your passions align with your thinking. Lead with your head, and your heart.

What do you think? Is this something you can benefit from or do you have a few tricks up your sleeve that are just as powerful? Make your voice heard by leaving a comment below. Don’t forget to hit the share button if you know others who will find this post useful.

I.C. Collins ~ Author, Educator, Trainer and President: Has One Simple Goal: Improve a Million Automotive Sales Consultants Lives with our ebook "How to Succeed in the Automotive Sales Industry"

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