Great leaders reflect on what went well, what didn't, what they learned and how they can improve. They put their thoughts down on paper to ensure their mistakes today are not repeated tomorrow.

Reserve time for self-reflection

Leaders are not immune to fears. They work towards controlling and learning from them.Instead of succumbing to their environment, great leaders proactively create the change they seek to make.

Contain your fears

The best leaders know how to take complex ideas and arguments and distill them down into simple language.One way to practice this is by reducing a full-page memo to half a page and then getting the message down to the size of a notecard.

Be precise in communication

A leader worth following accepts the blame, apologizes, buries the worry, and then puts all of the energy into the next objective.

Own up to your mistakes

...  and praise in public. They understand that shaming someone in public can do more damage than the initial misstep.Great leaders do not seek the spotlight and cast the light onto team members who could use the boost.

Reprimand in private

Leadership is a constant work in progress: Leaders open themselves up to criticism and surround themselves with others who challenge their way of thinking.

Ruthlessly seek out blind spots

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their ingenuity.”

They give others the space to fail forward and grow into their potential When I started my first job my dad gave me an extremely valuable gift: the leadership notes he had logged over the course of his 50-year military career, during which time he managed organizations and trained today's leaders.

Own up to your mistakes

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