How to Be a Leader: 10 Strategies for a Better Workplace

Introduction

What does being a leader in the modern workplace truly mean? According to recent data, 77% of organizations report a “leadership gap”—a critical shortage of strong leaders at multiple levels. That means there’s a vast pool of latent potential, waiting to be unlocked. This article delivers 10 actionable strategies to help you grow into an effective leader—regardless of your current role. Expect a mix of new insights, real-life examples, and actionable tactics that elevate your impact on the team and organization alike.

1. Leadership Is a Skill, Not a Trait

Leadership isn’t an innate trait reserved for the elite—or those with fancy titles. A recent eLearning Industry report notes that while only about 10% of people are natural leaders, 20% can demonstrate leadership potential through proper training. (Source: eLearning Industry)

Why this matters: By reframing leadership as a skill, you empower yourself to actively practice and cultivate leadership behaviors—proving that anyone can learn to lead.

Tip: Make a list of one or two leadership behaviors you admire—like decisiveness or transparency. Choose one to intentionally model this week.

2. Define What Leadership Really Means

Leadership at its core comes down to three behaviors:

1. Owning your work – Accept accountability and solve issues without delay.
2. Supporting others – Help teammates succeed, not just yourself. Remember “A chain (team) is only as strong as its weakest link”.
3. Making sound decisions under pressure – Stay calm and focused when things go sideways.
4. Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence – Leaders who master emotional intelligence (EQ) can better their emotions and connect more effectively with other.

3. The Importance of Self-Awareness

Before leading others, you must understand yourself—your patterns, triggers, and blind spots. You can begin with:

• Explore personality insights through tools like MBTI, DISC, or CliftonStrengths. These assessments help you understand your natural preferences, communication style, and where your strengths lie—whether it’s strategic thinking, teamwork, or how you make decisions.
• Invite 360° feedback by asking peers, supervisors, and direct reports what they genuinely think of your leadership style and impact. This multi-faceted approach reveals blind spots and performance gaps you might not notice on your own..
• Journal for five minutes daily, reflecting on your actions, decisions, and feelings. Reflective writing strengthens self-awareness and emotional intelligence, helping you connect past behaviors with future improvements.

Why it matters: Self–awareness is the foundation of growth. By shining a light on your blind spots, you can pinpoint both what to strengthen and what to change. Every journey of improvement begins with intentional self‑reflection

4. Practice Active Listening

Good leadership starts with powerful listening—not just hearing, but understanding. Stephen Covey famously said, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

Better listening equals stronger trust:

• Repeat what you heard to confirm understanding
• Ask follow-up questions (“Tell me more about that.”) to deepen clarity

Tip: In your next conversation, pause before responding—listen fully and reflect back what you heard.

5. Take Initiative Without Waiting for Permission

Leadership shows up in small, everyday actions. A team member took initiative by crafting a refined onboarding guide for new hires—without being asked. The first few days in a new company can be overwhelming; a well-structured onboarding guide can help minimize stress and reduce errors. Her initiative earned team-wide adoption and positive feedback.

Lesson: Leaders spot gaps—and act to fill them.

Exercise: Find a small inefficiency this week, propose a solution, and implement it. Even a modest impact illustrates leadership in action.

6. Hone Your Decision-Making Muscle

Decision-making isn’t reserved for executives—it’s a daily habit. Make one decision each day:

• Which task to start with
• Which tool to adopt
• How to address a minor issue

Rule of thumb: “Use data, not drama.” Look at the information, ask the right questions, and move forward.

Why it’s critical: Avoiding decisions is a retreat. Embracing them builds confidence—and shows leadership.

7. Invest in Your People

True leaders don’t just manage tasks—they build people. Gallup reports that teams with strong leaders deliver 27% higher profitability. (Source: Gallup) And companies using a strengths-based leadership approach see a 29% increase in profit and 23% higher engagement. Source: Gallup)

Ask yourself: “What does this person need to succeed?” Sometimes it’s clarity, encouragement, or specific developmental guidance.

Feedback tip: Give timely praise and honest guidance at a 5:1 ratio—five positive affirmations for every constructive comment.

8. Stay Calm Under Pressure

Pressure doesn’t build leadership—it reveals it. When systems break down or plans fail, the role of a leader—often unspoken—is to stay calm and act thoughtfully.

Breathing tactic: Pause, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: “What’s the next right move?”

Take control of your own energy and set the tone for your team. Become the steady support they need, and success will follow.

9. Find and Be a Mentor

Nobody leads in isolation. Great leaders seek mentorship—and then pay it forward. Surround yourself with individuals who intellectually enrich you and from whom you can learn.

• Find mentors in your network. Ask for 15 minutes of advice.
• Learn from their decisions, values, and perspective.
• Then mentor someone junior. Teaching solidifies your own understanding.

10. Commit to Lifelong Learning

Leaders never stop learning. Incorporating a small daily habit—such as dedicating just 15 minutes to reading or engaging with leadership content—might seem insignificant. However, this consistent practice can profoundly impact your growth and effectiveness as a leader. The key lies in building a habit that becomes an integral part of your routine.

Research indicates that brief daily reflections can significantly boost productivity and performance. For instance, a study by Harvard Business School found that employees who spent just 15 minutes at the end of each workday reflecting on their experiences saw a 22.8% increase in performance over a 10-day period. This habit not only enhances productivity but also fosters continuous learning and self-improvement. (Source Inc.)

Actions to consider:

• Read articles/books on leadership and psychology (One of my favorites is “Atomic Habits” by James Clear)
• Watch videos or webinars by recognized leaders
• Reflect weekly on what worked—and what didn’t

Result: A 1% weekly improvement compounds—making you markedly more effective in months.

Bringing It All Together

Here’s a distilled plan you can start today:

Final Thoughts

Leadership is not a badge—it’s a journey of consistent action, learning, and growth. Every step, from listening deeply to teaching others, moves you closer to becoming a leader people respect and trusts.

Your next step: Choose two practices from above. Implement them this week. Notice what shifts—maybe deeper connections, faster decisions, or stronger confidence.

Let’s grow together—share one leadership experience in the comments or tag someone who’s helped you grow. Your insight might be the spark someone else needs.