7 Harsh Truths That Will Improve Your Leadership Skills Overnight

Good leaders are willing to listen to feedback.

A leader who listens is open and accountable: he can filter out criticism or drama and find the facts in order to respond appropriately. 

Good leaders practice positive thinking, even when things go bad.

They view stressful situations from a more positive perspective, which takes emotional intelligence. Rather than getting stressed out about a work situation or a recent failure, they look at it as an opportunity to pause, regroup, learn, grow, and bounce back with renewed energy and focus. 

Good leaders are "do-it-now" people. They don't put things off until the last minute, which is a sure way to increase stress levels. 

Good leaders begin doing what they know they should do, and when they know they should do it

Good leaders put strict boundaries on themselves.

They say no to opportunities and things that don't excite them, speak to their values or further their mission in life. They say no to spending time with uninspiring, negative people who drag them down. They say no to overworking and neglecting self-care and family. 

Love in the leadership-at-work sense is not a feeling; it's expressed as an "action verb." 

It's love that shows up in meeting the needs of others to get results, clearing obstacles from people's paths, and empowering others to succeed and grow as workers and human beings. It has intrinsic value for both leader and employee.