10 Habits to Transform the Way You Lead in 2025

Effective leadership is not just about titles and big wins, it’s about the way you show up in your day-to-day work. Your daily habits show people the kind of leader you are. If you want to have real influence over your team, these ten habits will transform your leadership style and have a profound impact on your team.

1. Tap Into the Power of Effective 1-on-1s

Stop using 1-on-1 conversations as routine performance check-ins, and turn them into meaningful interactions focused on understanding and supporting your team. Instead of controlling the agenda, start with open-ended questions that engage deeply with each person's experiences, challenges, and aspirations. These conversations are your key to building trust and guiding your team to long-term growth. Read about what topics to cover in effective 1-on-1s here.

2. Lean Into Conflict with Questions

Most of us aim to avoid conflict, but real growth comes from embracing disagreements as learning opportunities. The next time someone presents an opposing view, don’t shut it down. Instead, get curious and ask questions in order to understand a new perspective. Read more about how to embrace conflict here.

3. Define “Winning” Clearly

Clearly define what "winning" means for your team. To reach the ideal outcome, everyone has to be crystal clear on what that is. Then, your team can align all strategies and initiatives with that goal, streamlining the process and resulting in stronger outcomes every time.

4. Guide Them from Complaining to Finding Solutions

If you find yourself becoming the go-to problem solver, it’s time for a change. When someone has a complaint or challenge, use guiding questions to help them think critically about it, define the real problem, and create their own solutions. Complaints are an opportunity to teach effective problem-solving, which empowers your team to think independently and maintain forward momentum.

5. Be Transparent with Business Goals

Don’t leave your team in the dark. Make sure your entire team can answer these questions: how does the business generate revenue? What are the primary goals and objectives? Who are our customers? Being transparent is not optional, it’s required to build loyalty and help your team work more effectively.

6. Learn to Be Honest and Direct

Being clear, direct, and honest is the best way to earn respect from your team. Clear communication means getting right to the point in simple, everyday terms. You don’t sugarcoat things or avoid tough topics. You can be kind while also being straightforward. When you communicate like this, it prevents misunderstandings and keeps everyone on the same page.

7. Prioritize Taking Action

Overplanning kills momentum. Once you have a good overview of where you want to go, decide on the next practical step, and do it. Otherwise, you can get consumed by all the what-ifs and never move forward. Take decisive action and then adapt your plan as it unfolds.

8. Focus on What Drives Each Person’s Success

Forget what you think you know about motivation. You need to learn and understand what drives each individual on your team. Engage with them, ask questions, and learn what inspires and energizes them. This is how you get people to take action and grow. Here are some tips for learning what drives your team.

9. Give Genuine, Real-Time Recognition

People don’t respond to recognition that feels generic and rehearsed. Instead, make genuine appreciation a daily practice. Engage with your team by acknowledging their efforts as they happen, focusing on specific actions and results. Authentic, in-the-moment praise not only feels more sincere but also creates a culture that encourages people to do their best work.

10. Always Be Curious

Embrace curiosity as a cornerstone of your leadership. Seek out new and different perspectives. Don’t make assumptions about why things happen, start asking questions to find real answers. This relentless inquiry will sharpen your decision-making skills and help you become a more empathic and impactful leader.

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