11 principles of leadership
Liberty University
AVIA 245 Aviation Leadership
Professor: Jim Molloy
2022
11 principles of leadership
Being an amazing leader doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of work and effort for people to
develop their leadership skills. Leadership is often discussed in-depth in seminars and books, and even in
degree programs. There are entire degrees dedicated to helping students become better leaders. These
programs are essential as they help future leaders learn specific skills they need to thrive in a business
setting, as well as communication and management techniques that will help them work effectively in
leading a team.
Good leaders know that effective leadership doesn’t come easily. They work to cultivate
leadership behaviors that will help them be effective and inspiring to their team. Good leaders also need
to have solid leadership principles that they live by. Leadership principles are the framework of actions
that a leader will take to help them get their team to the common goal. And good leaders understand
what their principles need to be, and put them into practice every day.
If you’re studying to become a leader, it’s important to learn about leadership principles and
determine which ones you can focus on. While there are various styles of leadership and unique
leadership theories, great leaders have similar principles that help them find success. These 11 principles
of leadership are vital for management professionals to possess so they can achieve their business
goals.
1. Admit your mistakes.
To err is human, but some leaders are uncomfortable with the idea that their team could see
them make a mistake. It can be a challenge to admit when you are wrong, but it’s extremely valuable
and actually important for teams to see their leaders make mistakes and admit to them. It gives them
the idea that they can also make mistakes and learn from them. Seeing a boss admit to a mistake can
help humanize them, and actually help employees relate to and respect them more. Good leaders are
up to the challenge—they show that it’s important to own your mistakes, help fix them, learn from
them, and move on. This helps them set a great example for their organization. Being unwilling to admit
mistakes can lead to employees not trusting their leaders, worrying that they will get in trouble if they
mess-up in any way, and a lack of responsibility that can cause huge issues for your team. Being able to
admit mistakes is a valuable leadership principle.
2. Be a good listener.
Great leaders know that communication is a two-way street that starts with listening. If a leader
isn’t a good listener, the result will be that their team is far less likely to listen to them in return. Great
leaders know that listening is key to helping them gain trust and respect of their team. Being willing to
not only listen, but really hear what your team is telling you, is key to being aware of problems and how
to fix them. Teams will communicate problems, concerns, ideas, and things about themselves that can
help leaders know better how to inspire, motivate, and work with them. Good listeners don’t have to
agree with everything they hear, but they commit to listening and working to understand it, using what
they've heard to make decisions. Leaders that listen ensure teams that they validate and understand
what they’re going through, and even if they take the team in a different direction, they know that they
were heard and understood.
3. Be innovative.
Leaders can’t rest on their laurels and expect their team to be the creative machine. Innovation is
key to a successful leader. Their job is to think outside the box, be creative, and help inspire the team to
do the same. Great leaders see a bigger picture and can help their team understand larger, long-term
goals. Leaders that innovate show their teams that they are current and relevant—teams want to know
that their leaders understand trends and are prepared for the future. So they learn about innovation,
tech trends, and utilize them in their organization regularly. This helps ensure them that they won’t
become obsolete. Leaders who innovate and think outside the box motivate their employees to catch
the vision and utilize their creativity as well. This helps everyone be more successful.
4. Communicate.
Good leaders know that open communication is the hallmark of good leadership. Without open
communication, employees have no idea what is expected of them. They will feel that they aren’t cared
about, that they are out of the loop, and that their manager isn’t honest with them. Communication can
help clear up misunderstandings or prevent them all together. It can also help employees better
understand and trust decisions that are made. It helps employees feel confident to speak to managers
about issues and concerns, and encourages everyone to establish good relationships. Communication
involves listening well, and speaking clearly. Good leaders use their listening skills to help them know
what to say, how to motivate, and what their team needs to hear. This helps everyone get on the same
page, and go for the same goals.
5. Continuously brush-up on your leadership skills.
Good leaders know that practice makes perfect. In order to continue to be a good leader every
day, you must practice and work at it. This can involve reading books or articles, listening to podcasts,
attending workshops, or even going back to school for another degree. Leaders demonstrate their
commitment to learning about new strategies and trends, showing their employees that they are
committed to bettering themselves. This can inspire employees to also want to work on self-
improvement. Good leaders are always looking for ways they can get better, connect more with their
employees, and be the best leader they can be.
6. Create common values.
Great leaders know the importance of values. They have their own standards, morals, and values
that guide their work, and expect the same of their team. When the team shares common values, there
is little room for confusing or misunderstanding. Good leaders always promote ethical and moral
behavior in the workplace, and hold their teams to the same standard. They focus on professionalism
and want to ensure everyone else does as well. They lead by example, but also have clear expectations
when it comes to their values so there can be no misunderstanding. The right values help institute a
great company culture for the team. And if there is an issue with values, they address it immediately and
professionally.
7. Embrace change.
Change is a part of life, and leaders can help teams embrace change whole-heartedly. Good
leaders don’t grumble or complain when change comes—instead they lead by example and show the
positive results that can come. They show that changes are necessary and can help enhance an
organization or a team. And when leaders make the decision embrace change, the entire company is
more likely to as well. Leaders with exceptional talent and good instincts see change as new possibilities
for growth and improvement, and treat it that way. Because new things and change are an inevitability,
learning to embrace it will make everything go more smoothly.
8. Lead by example.
Ultimately one of the greatest principles a leader can have is leading by example. Everything they
do will end up being reflected in the actions of their employees. If a leader complains, doesn’t do work
well, and is unprofessional, they can expect the same from their team. If they are kind, excited about
work, honest, and dedicated, their team is likely to follow. Good leaders know that their every move
may be being watched, so they work hard to ensure everything they do is something their team can
follow. This doesn’t mean that leaders don’t make mistakes—on the contrary, the way leaders handle
mistakes is in and of itself an opportunity to lead by example!
9. Make everyone feel important.
Leaders don’t have favorites. Effective leadership involves making everyone you interact with feel
like an important member of the team. If a leader seems to favor someone over someone else, people
notice. It can decrease morale, cause a lack of respect, and even create issues between workers. Good
leaders focus on unifying and uplifting the whole team. They work with individuals to help them see
what their role is, how they can benefit the organization, and why they matter. Doing this helps team
members see the great things that each of them add, and can help them recognize that in each other as
well.
10. Promote a diverse work environment.
Diversity is key to a successful work environment. Good leaders work hard to hire people who are
a different race, gender, or lifestyle from their own. They work to bring diverse teams together so they
can learn from each other. Great leaders focus on recruiting and hiring diverse team members, giving
proper training so everyone feels comfortable and safe at work, and enhancing programs that help
increase diversity and inclusion. Great leaders understand that for minorities, it can be overwhelming
and nerve-wracking to come to work. They work to create teams that are polite and respectful of one
another. Good leaders also work to bring diverse leadership into their fold. There are huge benefits from
added diversity in leadership, and good leaders work to help bring that to their organization.
11. Work as a team.
It may seem cliche, but teamwork is key to a successful work environment. When individuals feel
that they are competing, that it is every-person-for-themselves, or that they aren’t safe on a team,
productivity drastically decreases. Good leaders work to help everyone get on the same page toward a
common goal. They understand that in order for teams to be successful, everyone has to be willing to
come together and make it happen. They clearly communicate goals, utilize team building to help
everyone develop relationships and have a good time together, and then create opportunities for
collaboration within their work.
