14 Habits Of Highly Successful Young Leaders

Hiring young leaders is critical to the success of any organization.  Whether you lead a church, business, non-profit, or athletic organization, young leaders give you sustainability.  Young leaders bring fresh perspective and innovative ideas.  Great organizations are always green and growing.

An organization struggling to find quality young leaders is the National Football League.  The sport is suffering from a lack of quarterbacks being produced from its college pipeline.  In fact, the top overall pick in the 2016 Draft, Jared Goff, has been made inactive for the season’s opening week by the Los Angeles Rams.  He will not even dress out.  ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer says, “The majority of quarterbacks coming out of college these days are as football remedial as you could possibly be.”

In a September 6th article on NFL.com, writer Michael Silver took an in-depth look at the problem. However, the article did identify a highly successful young leader, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.  Wilson was quoted twice in Silver’s post.

As I read his comments, I gleaned the following are 14 Habits Of Highly Successful Young Leaders.  First is the lesson followed by Wilson’s quote.

  1. Highly Successful Young Leaders Are Hard To Find – “There are 32 starting quarterbacks in the National Football League — it’s not an easy job.”
  2. Highly Successful Young Leaders Are Grateful – “I’m just grateful I have that opportunity.”
  3. Highly Successful Young Leaders Work Hard – “And with that gratefulness, you put the work in.”
  4. Highly Successful Young Leaders Do Not Take Anything For Granted – “because you don’t take anything for granted, and that’s what it takes to do this job.”
  5. Highly Successful Young Leaders Have Natural Skills – “And in terms of finding that skill set, finding that quote-unquote It Factorthat everybody talks about, or whatever that may be … you’re definitely born with most of it.”
  6. Highly Successful Young Leaders Continually Work On Their Craft – “And then you craft the rest of it.”
  7. Highly Successful Young Leaders Pay Great Attention To Detail – “And you keep building your craft through hard work and attention to detail.”
  8. Highly Successful Young Leaders Have High Capacity – “I like having more on my plate.”
  9. Highly Successful Young Leaders Want Ownership And To Control Outcomes – “The more that I have on my plate, the more that I feel I can control.
  10. Highly Successful Young Leaders Are Incredibly Smart – “and understand”
  11. Highly Successful Young Leaders Embrace Pressure – “try to go with when the team needs me to go out and make a play.”
  12. Highly Successful Young Leaders Are Passionate – “Going into Year 5, I’m excited.”
  13. Highly Successful Young Leaders Sense And Seize Opportunity – “Every opportunity’s a new opportunity, and every game’s a new game. That’s the mentality you have to play with.”
  14. Highly Successful Young Leaders Want To Do Something Great With Their Lives – “That’s what makes you an NFL quarterback, and that’s what gives you the opportunity to be great.”

What is one thing from this list which surprised you about highly successful young leaders?

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Brian Dodd

Brian Dodd is the author and content coordinator for Brian Dodd On Leadership. In addition to overseeing this site's content, Brian is Director of New Ministry Partnerships for INJOY Stewardship Solutions where he helps churches develop cultures of generosity. Brian has also authored the critically-acclaimed book The 10 Indispensable Practices Of The 2-Minute Leader.