Leadership Checklist
Leadership Checklist
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a
leader." — John Quincy Adams
I’m creating a leadership checklist that should act like a hub and spoke of effective leadership
practices.
The challenge is distilling effective leadership practices into one-liner reminders that are easy to
evaluate the behavior, where possible.
I used a specific “user story” format (“As a leader, I …”) to both make each line item a
standalone story, but also to test these as personal “unit tests” for leadership. By making each
one more precise, insightful, and actionable, while pinning to effective practices, this should
serve as a simple and scannable cheat sheet of proven practices for leadership. If done well, it
should reflect years of insight and lessons at a glance.
Top 10
Core
Action
Change
• As a leader, I always factor the “right” thing to do and ethics when faced with choices
and decisions.
• As a leader, I am not afraid to admit when I am wrong or someone has a better idea.
• As a leader, I am prepared to make tough decisions.
• As a leader, I build consensus for ideas.
• As a leader, I focus on doing business the right, ethical way.
• As a leader, I help people understand that until a decision is made its ok to argue like hell
but once it is made everyone needs to get in the boat and row!
• As a leader, I involve the right people for key decisions.
• As a leader, I know when to defer to other people for their expertise.
• As a leader, I recognize that not all people will agree with my decisions.
• As a leader, I build a team of energizers and weed out the energy sappers.
• As a leader, I demonstrate passion and enthusiasm.
• As a leader, I give others meaningful work and show them why it’s meaningful.
• As a leader, I identify opportunities.
• As a leader, I invest in people’s strengths to help them blossom.
• As a leader, I look to the future with possibility.
• As a leader, I make people feel valued for their contributions.
• As a leader, I make the workplace an enjoyable place to be.
• As a leader, I reward effort and results.
• As a leader, I reward people when they excel.
• As a leader, I spend more time in my strengths and less time in my weaknesses.
• As a leader, I take time to renew and recharge.
Influence and Connection
Problem Solving
Teamwork