4 Key Behaviors of Highly Effective Leaders
Cathie Leimbach • June 18, 2024
Great leadership begins with a mindset that fosters the success of others. This leadership mindset is pivotal for organizational excellence. It encompasses four key behaviors: being supportive, maintaining a strong results focus, considering multiple perspectives, and solving problems effectively.
- Leaders who are supportive build trust and encourage team members, creating a positive work environment.
- A strong results focus ensures that goals are met efficiently and effectively, driving the team towards success.
- By considering multiple perspectives, leaders can make well-rounded decisions, fostering innovation and inclusivity.
- Effective problem-solving enables leaders to navigate challenges swiftly, maintaining progress and morale.
McKinsey studies found that together, these behaviors account for 89 percent of leadership effectiveness, demonstrating that a balanced approach combining empathy, goal orientation, inclusivity, and strategic thinking is crucial for leading teams to success.
This mindset not only enhances individual performance but also cultivates a collaborative and thriving organizational culture.
What separates thriving companies from struggling ones? 🤔 Professor Lynda Gratton from London Business School spent decades studying this exact question. Her findings will change how you think about leadership. Here's what she discovered: Organizations that invest in developing collaborative leaders consistently outperform their competitors. Not by a little—by a lot. Through her groundbreaking study of 21 global companies and 200+ executives, Gratton identified the three game-changing elements: ✅ Cooperative culture - Moving from "me vs. you" to "we together" ✅ Rich networks - Breaking down silos so ideas flow freely ✅ Shared purpose - Giving work meaning beyond the paycheck The results speak for themselves: → Better innovation → Higher employee engagement → Stronger financial performance Companies that train managers to be collaborative leaders (not just bosses) create environments where teams actually want to work together. My takeaway? Leadership development isn't a "nice to have"—it's your competitive advantage. When leaders learn to cooperate and inspire others, entire organizations transform. What's your experience with collaborative leadership? Have you seen this play out in your organization? Want to dive deeper? View Three Pillars of Success which breaks down how to produce measurable results in innovation, efficiency, and engagement.
In leadership, hope may spark positivity—but trust is what sustains it. Trust means your team believes you’re honest, reliable, and truly have their best interests in mind. Without it, people hesitate to share ideas, take risks, or fully engage. Great leaders build trust through consistent actions. They follow through on promises, admit mistakes, and lead with transparency. They listen without judgment, treat everyone with respect, and make decisions that are fair and thoughtful. When leaders communicate clearly and regularly—even when the news is tough—they create a culture of openness. When they give credit generously and support their team both publicly and privately, trust grows even deeper. Over time, trust becomes the foundation for loyalty, collaboration, and high performance. People feel safer, more motivated, and more willing to contribute at their best. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. But with patience, consistency, and care, leaders can build it—and with it, a stronger, more positive workplace.