When other leaders approach me for leadership advice, most often one of the first questions I’m asked is if there is a secret to success I can share. Though there might not be a universal blueprint for reaching success in business, I have found that the most successful organizations have very unique leadership and management skills. Everyone is born with the capabilities of being a leader, but only the ones with true passion and dedication succeed. To help you on your path to success, here are my 10 commandments for successful leadership:

  1. Believe in your business. Your work is a reflection of your passion and dedication for your organization. If you don’t have faith in your organization and put your heart into the projects you work on, it will be incredibly difficult to reach the goals you set.
  2. Practice what you preach. Your team is following your lead, so lead by example. Successful leaders are always conscious of how their words and actions reflect upon them; they know that their decisions will always affect others in one way or another.
  3. Listen more than talk. This is a big one! Remember that your team is your greatest resource and ally. Just like you, they have your organization’s best interests in mind, so take the time to hear them out and listen to their ideas. Their feedback will prove invaluable for improving strategies and increasing your chances of success.
  4. Be candid. It may be an overused phrase, but honesty really is the best policy. Many leaders have the tendency to sugarcoat things, but I believe that candor is one of the most admirable traits a leader can have. Honesty builds trust among your organization and can help everyone find the most effective solutions and strategies.
  5. Empower those around you. Everyone appreciates positive reinforcement, so it’s important to give credit where credit is due. Genuine gratefulness for your team’s hard work goes a long way and can really motivate them to continue to do well in the future.
  6. Be confident, but act humbly. No matter how much your position grows, you cannot forget where you started. Being a leader may mean you have more influence, but it in no way makes others inferior. Staying humble; not giving into your ego will help you stay focused on what’s really important, and it will inspire others to act that way too.
  7. Eyes on the prize, not on the competition. It can be tempting to keep tabs on your competition, but comparing your organization to others only serves as a distraction. After all, your goal should be to help your organization succeed, not make other businesses fail.
  8. Make room for personal time. Good leaders always know when they need to hit the refresh button. Work is important, but you also need to know when it’s necessary to take a break. Giving yourself time off can give you a new wave of motivation when you return to work and can even offer a fresh perspective.
  9. Stay hungry. Putting all of your effort into your work is the best way to ensure you get the results you’re looking for. Effective leadership comes from a desire to move your organization forward and to do so you shouldn’t waste any time looking back and instead should use your energy to stay motivated and productive.
  10. Don’t be afraid of failure. True leaders never quit! Failure is the best learning experience you can have, which can only benefit your organization. Think of it this way: now that you know one way not to do things, you’re one step closer to finding a solution!

As leaders, we need to always hold ourselves up to the highest standards of success and try our hardest to do what’s right for our team, clients and organization. I hope that my 10 commandments provide you with the foundation for leading your organization to success. What leadership commandments do you live by? Share your thoughts in a comment below.