Leaders Are Made, Not Born — How to Build the Habits of Great Leadership

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Ted Bonel 5. LEADERSHIP
“To get ordinary people to produce extraordinary results.”

— General Norman Schwarzkopf

Leadership isn’t a gift. It’s a craft.

Despite what people say, great leaders aren’t born with it — they build it.
Through practice. Reflection. Discipline. And the daily habit of learning.

The best leaders aren’t perfect. They’re progressive — always improving, always curious, always willing to take responsibility.

So how do you develop into the kind of leader others choose to follow?
It starts with mastering the principles — and the habits — that turn authority into influence.

What Is Leadership?

Leadership is the process of influencing others toward a shared mission or goal — and doing so in a way that builds trust, purpose, and consistency.

Your title gives you authority.
But your behavior earns you leadership.

As Jim Collins reminds us, “It all begins with people.”
And that begins with you.

The 12 Principles of Effective Leadership

Here are 12 timeless leadership principles that help you be, know, and do what great leaders do every day.

  1. Know Yourself and Seek Self-Improvement

    Leadership starts with self-awareness. Study your habits, values, and blind spots. Growth begins with honesty.

  2. Be Technically Proficient

    You don’t need to be the smartest in the room — but you do need to understand your job and your team’s work deeply enough to lead with credibility.

  3. Seek Responsibility — and Own It

    Take initiative. And when mistakes happen, own them fast. Responsibility is magnetic — it earns respect and inspires trust.

  4. Make Sound and Timely Decisions

    Use data, intuition, and structured thinking tools like decision trees and flow charts — but remember: indecision kills momentum.

  5. Set the Example

    People don’t follow words — they follow behavior. As Einstein said:

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.”

  1. Know and Care for Your People

    True leadership is service. Take a genuine interest in your people’s growth, well-being, and goals.

  2. Keep Everyone Informed

    Clarity builds confidence. Communicate the “why” as much as the “what.”

  3. Develop Responsibility in Others

    Empower your team to lead. A leader’s job isn’t to create followers — it’s to create more leaders.

  4. Ensure Tasks Are Understood and Achieved

    Never assume alignment. Verify understanding. Measure execution.

  5. Train as a Team

    A group becomes a team when it practices together — under pressure, with purpose.

  6. Use the Full Capability of Your Organization

    Leverage people’s strengths. Great leaders are conductors, not soloists.

  7. Develop Your People

    The ultimate test of leadership is succession. If you’re not building future leaders, you’re just managing the present.

Habits: The Foundation of Leadership Discipline

Good leadership is simply good habits compounded over time.

James Clear’s Atomic Habits puts it perfectly:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

45% of our daily actions are automatic. That means nearly half your leadership happens on autopilot.
The question is — are your habits serving your leadership, or sabotaging it?

The 4 Laws of Building Better Habits:

  1. Make It Obvious — Notice your environment. What cues drive your behavior?
  2. Make It Attractive — Link discipline with reward and pride.
  3. Make It Easy — Start small and repeat often. Consistency beats intensity.
  4. Make It Satisfying — Celebrate small wins to reinforce the behavior.

Habits build leaders. Leaders build culture. And culture shapes destiny.

Final Thought

Great leadership doesn’t emerge from charisma or genetics — it grows from consistency and humility.

So keep learning. Keep reflecting. And remember:
Leadership isn’t about being in charge — it’s about being worth following.

Ready to build stronger leadership habits in your business?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

To Scale Up your business! Take our Scaling Up/Four Decisions Needs Assessment to discover how your business measures against other Scaled Up companies. We’ll contact you.

TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Ready to build stronger leadership habits in your business?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

 

ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION

For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.

Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.

If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops