Some leadership principles are timeless and effective across all work environments.
In my experience of over 30 years in the U.S. Navy, as a law firm partner, and now as an executive in a Fortune 100 company, there are timeless leadership practices and principles that foster and create positive workplace cultures. A positive workplace culture results in high morale and exceptional team performance.
While norms and times change over the years, some foundational human leadership principles do not. I recently set forth many of those principles in my new book, “Lessons from the Admiral: Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders.” With so many concerned about the advent of artificial intelligence and its impact on the workplace, here are some of the timeless principles.
Be an empathetic leader. I have found that great leaders surround themselves with good people, demand accountability, and expect loyalty. But they also allow for mistakes and even failure. A leader should not only be a mentor but also model mentorship and these behaviors to others. Good bosses will show grace, empathy, and compassion when an employee makes a mistake. While not all mistakes are recoverable, most are. Positive reinforcement and corrective guidance go a long way. Once corrective guidance has been given, the individual should learn from the mistake and not repeat it. Great leaders allow some room for failure and provide their employees with the opportunity to recover.
Accountability matters. Leaders must endeavor to keep their commitments while holding others accountable. No one likes a freeloader or someone who is not doing their job, pulling their weight, or dragging the team down. Do not miss deadlines. Do what you say you will do when you say you will do it. Be reliable. For those who are not meeting expectations and underperforming, hold them accountable. The employees who are meeting expectations and performing will appreciate that.
Be punctual. Everyone is watching the leaders—every move that they make. To emphasize the importance of attention to detail and workplace excellence, leaders should be punctual. No one appreciates waiting around for someone who is late. The signal that is sent to employees and followers is negative. While unexpected events occur that make someone late, as a fundamental precept, the leader should set the standard and always be on time.
Be a team player. Even the leader needs to be a team player. Once a leader picks their team made up of cohorts and advisors, they should be the quarterback and choreograph the team’s efforts. This includes listening to the input of others and ensuring that they assign tasks with clarity. Expectations and deliverables must be communicated clearly and understood by all. The leader is still a team member and must create an atmosphere where cooperation, information sharing, and recognition are inherent to the team’s activities and drive success.
Take care of your people. Above all, leaders should make sure they invest in their people. As a leader, it is important to ensure your employees thrive. Give them credit. Make sure they have every opportunity for roles of greater responsibility. Work hard to get them promoted so they can move up, allowing others the opportunity to advance also.
Demonstrate gratitude. At every opportunity, leaders should show gratitude. Saying thank you is easy. A good leader incorporates recognition in a regular cadence of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual routines and practices. Yes, employees appreciate nice pay and a benefits package, but the feeling of gratitude is priceless and costs nothing.
Integrity matters. Always make the right decision and be guided by ethical principles. If in doubt about a course of action, leaders should seek counsel, guidance, and assistance and should not let the intoxication of leadership go to their heads. One dumb decision can ruin a leader’s career and tarnish or destroy a business. And while it is important to be loyal to your employer, integrity always trumps loyalty. Always.
Conclusion
As a senior naval officer and experienced house lawyer, I have seen many leaders in military briefing rooms and corporate conference rooms. Following these simple yet timeless principles creates a healthy, positive work culture where everyone can thrive. Equally important, the leader creates a legacy leadership model whereby their impact on current employees is enduring and is felt long after their departure. That’s what a true leader does.
Mark C. Fava, author of LESSONS FROM THE ADMIRAL: Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders, is a speaker, retired US Navy Captain, and career aviation lawyer at the world's largest aerospace manufacturer. He was not the Admiral. He resides in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, visit www.markcfava.com.
