Leadership in Action: How Great Leaders Apply Their Insights

Leadership is not merely about holding a position or title; it’s about the ability to inspire and influence others toward a common goal. Great leaders are those who not only possess knowledge and insights but also apply them effectively. They understand that leadership is not a passive role; it’s a continuous journey of self-improvement and positive influence. In this article, we will explore how great leaders apply their insights, with a specific focus on habit building for sustainable behavioural change.

The Power of Insights

Leaders often gain valuable insights through their experiences, education, personal growth, and leadership development. These insights can range from understanding human behaviour to grasping market dynamics, but what truly sets great leaders apart is their capacity to apply these insights effectively. In other words, they possess the ability to turn insight into action. This is the key to successful leadership, as it allows leaders to make informed decisions, inspire their team, and ultimately drive positive change.

Leadership assessment tools can be invaluable in enhancing leaders’ self-awareness and providing them with the insights needed to develop their unique leadership style. Through assessments, leaders can delve deeper into their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth — empowering them to create personalised strategies for self-improvement. Tools such as personality assessments, 360-degree feedback surveys, and situational judgement tests, not only facilitate the gathering of insight but also guide leaders in translating these insights into action. Furthermore, they underline the significance of values based leadership, encouraging leaders to align their actions and decisions with their core values. In essence, leadership assessment tools can serve as a catalyst for sustainable behaviour change and the embodiment of effective, values based leadership.

1. Identify Key Behaviours

Great leaders identify specific behaviours that need to change in order to align with their insights. For example, if a leader recognises the need for better communication within their team, they may identify the behaviour of active listening as a key focus.

2. Start Small

To build a habit successfully, it’s important to start small. Great leaders don’t attempt to overhaul their entire approach overnight. Habit researcher James Clear, specifies that we should only attempt to adopt one new habit at a time. Begin with a single, manageable change and gradually expand from there once the desired behaviour has become fully integrated into your routine. In our example, you might start by dedicating 10 minutes daily to active listening during team meetings.

3. Consistency is Key

Habit building requires consistency. Great leaders make a conscious effort to practise the desired behaviour consistently, whether it’s daily, weekly, or on a set schedule. This repetition reinforces the habit and leads to lasting change. Using habit tracking tools

4. Seek Accountability

Great leaders understand the power of accountability. They may share their intention to build a new habit with a colleague, mentor, or team member who can help keep them on track. This external accountability makes it more likely that they will stick to their commitment.

5. Reflect and Adjust

Reflecting on progress is essential. Great leaders regularly assess how well they are applying their insights and building new habits. If they encounter challenges, they adjust their approach and continue refining their habits.

Great leaders are not afraid to explore their insights and use them to drive positive change. Leadership assessment and profiling tools aid in this process by providing valuable insights and guiding leaders towards developing personalised strategies for self-improvement. Sharing their own stories of both wins and failures, being authentic and vulnerable enables others to do the same. By incorporating habit building into their journey, leaders can turn these insights into tangible changes for themselves and their teams. The result is effective leadership that inspires, empowers, and drives positive change in individuals, organisations, and society as a whole.