20 Habits Of The Very Best Leaders

What makes a great leader?  In his new book Leadership In War: Essential Lessons From Those Who Made History, Andrew Roberts builds a profile using some of the most well-known military leaders in history.  One such leader was Napoleon Bonaparte.

Roberts sums up the chapter on Bonaparte and his leadership with the following words:

“For Napoleon’s career demonstrated the importance of compartmentalization, meticulous planning, knowledge of terrain, superb timing, valuing the importance of discipline and training, understanding the psychology of the ordinary solider to create espirit de corps, the issuing of inspirational speeches and proclamations, controlling the news, adapting the tactical ideas of others, asking pertinent questions fo the right people, a deep learning and appreciation of history, a formidable memory, utter ruthlessness when necessary, the deployment of personal charisma, immense calm under unimaginable pressure (especially in moments that look like defeat), an almost obsessive compulsive attention to detail, rigorous control of emotions, and the ability to exploit a momentary numerical advantage at the decisive point on the battlefield – and, not least, good luck.  Even though he was ultimately defeated, Napoleon is the wartime leader against whom all others must be judged.”

When we break down Roberts analysis of Napoleon, we discover 20 Habits Of The Very Best Leaders:

1. The Very Best Leaders Prioritize Better Than Others – “the importance of compartmentalization”
2. The Very Best Leaders Meticulously Plan – “meticulous planning”
3. The Very Best Leaders Have Institutional Knowledge In Their Area Of Discipline – “knowledge of terrain”
4. The Very Best Leaders Have A Superb Sense Of Timing – “superb timing”
5. The Very Best Leaders Are The Most Disciplined Leaders – “valuing the importance of discipline and training”
6. The Very Best Leaders Understand The Value EVERY Team Member Brings, Regardless Of Their Rank – “understanding the psychology of the ordinary solider to create espirit de corps”
7. The Very Best Leaders Are Great Communicators – “the issuing of inspirational speeches and proclamations”
8. The Very Best Leaders Control The Messaging Of Their Organizations – “controlling the news”
9. The Very Best Leaders Gather Information And Then Adapt Accordingly – “adapting the tactical ideas of others”
10. The Very Best Leaders Ask The Best Questions Of The Right People – “asking pertinent questions fo the right people”
11. The Very Best Leaders Are Continual Learners – “a deep learning and appreciation of history”
12. The Very Best Leaders Learn From Their Successes And Failures – “a formidable memory”
13. The Very Best Leaders Make Tough Decisions – “utter ruthlessness when necessary”
14. The Very Best Leaders Have Superior People Skills – “the deployment of personal charisma”
15. The Very Best Leaders Are Calm Under Pressure – “immense calm under unimaginable pressure (especially in moments that look like defeat)”
16. The Very Best Leaders Have An Obsessive Attention To Detail – “an almost obsessive compulsive attention to detail”
17. The Very Best Leaders Have Great Self-Control – “rigorous control of emotions”
18. The Very Best Leaders Sense Opportunity And Seize It – “the ability to exploit a momentary numerical advantage at the decisive point on the battlefield”
19. The Very Best Leaders Leverage Good Luck When It Comes – “good luck”
20. Even The Very Best Leaders Will One Day Be Replaced – “he was ultimately defeated”

What is one thing you learned from the list above which will make you a better leader?

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