7 Things Leaders Value
The following are 7 things leaders value which create separation from the competition. Let me first give you the list, and then I will elaborate on each one.
- Consistency
- High Character
- Partnerships
- Simplicity
- Talent
- Gratefulness
- Good Habits
1. The Value of Consistency
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts was recently asked what impresses him most about teammate Shohei Ohtani. He responded in this article, “Not baseball. It’s more of just how he handles everything, how he goes about it. He shows up every day. He’s a very consistent person. He smiles when he comes to the park. You can’t tell if he’s having a good day or a bad day. And those are the attributes I personally care about the most. I don’t want to have to tiptoe around. ‘Are you having a good day or a bad day? Can I talk to you? Can I not talk to you?’ So the thing I really like the most, that I’m very impressed by, is how Shohei handles all the things going on around him.”
From the comments above, consistency does the following:
- Makes a person reliable.
- Removes emotional drama.
- Builds healthy relationships.
- Makes you a better teammate.
- Increases your value.
2. The Value of High Character
Speaking of Betts, before the beginning of this baseball season, he set an even higher personal goal. He said in this article that he wants to become “a legend in the game.”
So how does he plan to achieve this?
He said, “I want to be great. When I’m done, I want you to remember not necessarily just the baseball player, but Mookie. I want to be a legend in the game… How I create that, I have no idea. I’m just kind of going about it and bringing smiles to people’s faces when I can, trying to sign some autographs when I can, be the best player I can be when I’m playing, be the best teammate I can be. Whatever comes my way, I’m just going to try and be the best at it no matter what.”
Betts elaborated, “I think if I can do that, I feel like that will create some type of legacy that I can leave. You won’t remember all the on-field stuff, but I want people to remember who Mookie was off the field for sure.”
You create a legacy not only by what you do on the field but also by how you impact others off it.
3. The Value of Partnerships
Formula 1 racing has become a global phenomenon. Per this article from Culture of Sport, F1’s 2024 revenue hit $3.4 billion, a $189 million increase from the previous year.
The financial increase came from three primary areas:
- Media Rights – Networks pay substantal amounts for broadcasting rights.
- Race Promotion Fees -Host cities pay a premium for the opportunity to hold an F1 event.
- Sponsorships – Many of the world’s top brands are aligning with F1 racing.
What do these revenue streams have in common? They underscore the power and profitability of mutually beneficial partnerships.
It is true – you can accomplish more with “we” than “me.”
4. The Value of Simplicity
Starbucks has cut 13 drinks from its menu to streamline operations. This move aims to reduce order fulfillment time to four minutes.
Smart leaders know that simplicity enhances efficiency, profitability, and the overall customer experience.
5. The Value of Talent
This has not been an ideal year for legendary manager Pep Guardiola and defending champion Manchester City. At the time of this writing, they are currently in fifth-place in the Premier League standings. Not only have they been eliminated from this year’s Premier League and Champions League championship contention, but they risk missing next year’s Champions League.
Some has suggested that Guardiola’s coaching methods have become outdated. Rather than looking at the coach, let’s consider another key factor: talent.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been sidelined due to injury. In addition, team players like Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan have struggled to play at their usual level.
Guardiola summed it up succinctly, “We have to rise to the rhythm unbelievably and we could not, simply we could not because we didn’t have the players.”
John Wooden, the 11-time NCAA championship-winning coach, famously said, “I’m a better coach with talent than without it.” No matter how great a leader you are, without the necessary talent, success will be elusive.
6. The Value of Gratefulness
On November 14, 2024, during the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid became the fourth fastest and fourth youngest player to reach 1,000 NHL points.
Reflecting on this achievement, McDavid said in this article, “Some of these things have hit me with a little more emotion than I would have thought. You spend your whole life playing hockey and loving the game. I just wanted to play and make the NHL. A thousand points later – I’ve been doing it for 10 years now – it’s pretty special. You take it for granted sometimes. These moments give you a chance to look back and be grateful.”
Successful leaders should be grateful leaders.
7. The Value of Practice and Good Habits
Cristiano Ronaldo incorporates specific breathing techniques into his training regimen. He explained why in this article, “Because it makes you calm. When I do it, it controls my heart rate and makes my heart rate come down. It’s something that I practice and build into my routine.”
He then adds, “It is something that I always do in training, not just in games — because it is a habit. When you keep doing things the same, it becomes a habit, and that’s why I look to control my breathing every time.”
Practice always becomes a habit. Good habits, built over time, separate elite leaders from the rest.
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