These 12 characteristics show up over and over again – and they can change the way you lead
When I recorded my first episode of How Leaders Lead back in 2020, I was just another guy with a podcast. I had no idea what I was getting into. But I knew I loved learning from great leaders, and I thought other people might want to do the same.
Three hundred episodes later, I’m more convinced of that than ever.
I’ve sat across from CEOs, coaches, athletes, entrepreneurs, and artists. Their industries are different. Their styles vary. They come from all walks of life. But certain things keep showing up—patterns that transcend industry, title, and background.
So this milestone gives me the perfect excuse to reflect on the common themes that make these leaders so great. And I hope it gives you something useful to take into your own leadership journey, too.
They’re always learning.
Leaders are learners. It’s the most common themeI’ve seen across 300 conversations, and it’s a core way I approach leadership development myself. But it’s not just about book smarts. That hunger to learn shows up in lots of different ways.
Curiosity
Almost every leader I have talked to is energized by discovery. They read widely, ask questions outside their industry, and approach the world with a sense of wonder. As a result, they often make connections others miss.
Curiosity fuels career growth – Chrissy Taylor, President & CEO of Enterprise Mobility
Humility
The leaders I talk with know they don’t have a monopoly on good ideas—and they don’t feel the need to. They actively listen to the people around them, seek out different perspectives, and are genuinely open to being wrong.
Learning is rooted in humility – Gui Loureiro, CEO of Walmart in Canada, Chile, Mexico & Central America
Failure
I often ask my guests about their failures, because I know from my own experience just what a powerful teacher they can be. And time and time again, leaders share stories of how their failures shaped them. They know that every setback contains information, and they’re willing to examine them honestly so they can grow from them.
Failure is 100% information – Scott Hamilton, Olympic Gold Medalist
Self-Discovery
I am always amazed by the insights and stories my guests share from their own lives. In every case, they have taken the time to reflect on their own patterns and blind spots. They do the hard work of understanding themselves. And that self-awareness makes them more authentic, more consistent, and ultimately more effective.
Take time to understand your own story – Guy Raz, Creator of NPR’s “How I Built This”
They’re oriented around other people.
After 300 episodes, I can safely say that the best leaders are focused more on others than themselves. That mindset is embedded into their actions, and it fundamentally shifts the way they work with everyone around them.
Servant Leadership
For these top leaders, their positions aren’t an opportunity to wield power, but to serve people. So they remove obstacles. They support their team. They help others win. And with that mindset, they achieve the sweetest kind of success themselves.
See your life through a lens of service – Alan Mulally, Former CEO of Ford Motor Company
Customer Focus
I’ve heard countless stories and anecdotes of leaders being obsessively focused on their customers. They find ways to stay close to them and listen to the employees who serve them. They’re relentlessly focused on finding and solving the problems their customers are facing. For top leaders, it’s not just about making a buck, but actually making people’s lives better.
Solve for the customer and you’ll be rewarded – Yamini Rangan, CEO of Hubspot
Delegation
Time and time again, guests tell me how they develop the people on their team. They don’t hoard opportunity or try to do it all themselves. Instead, they intentionally create stretch assignments and invest in developing the next generation of leaders. For them, their legacy isn’t just what they build. It’s who they build.
Take risks on your people – Irina Novoselsky, Former CEO of Hootsuite
A Culture-First Mindset
One of my favorite things to talk about on How Leaders Lead is culture. Now, for some people, that’s a buzzword. But for my guests, it’s a living reality of their day-to-day choices. They know that what they model, recognize, and tolerate defines their organization. The best leaders are intentional about all three.
You can’t go out and buy a healthy culture – Mike Wirth, CEO and Chairman of Chevron
They understand the power of clarity.
We all have so much vying for our attention. But the leaders I’ve interviewed can cut through the noise. They know how to be clear—not just in the way they communicate, but in how they think, strategize, and relate to others.
Vision
Of course, a big part of leadership is casting a vision. But truly elite leaders don’t stop there. They make that vision clear, so it’s urgent and inspiring to their team. They craft it with the right mix of meaning and simplicity so everyone understands what it is and the role they play in making it happen.
Don’t guarantee success, but show a path toward it – Damola Adamolekun, CEO of Red Lobster
Focus
The leaders who build the most successful organizations are ruthlessly focused on what actually matters. Even more importantly, they have the discipline and courage to say no to everything that doesn’t. This ability to focus shows up in the way they manage everything, from marketplace strategy to relationships to their daily calendar.
Narrow your focus to what’s important – Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS
Simplification
One of the most vital aspects of clarity is the ability to take something complex and make it simple. So many leaders I talk to know how to turn complicated products into clear market pitches. Or make an involved strategy memorable and clear, so their team can run with it. It’s easy to chalk it up to a natural talent, but the ability to simplify takes real intention, and great leaders develop that skill.
Pair simple execution with sophisticated strategy – Joe Moglia, former CEO of TD Ameritrade
Feedback
Over 300 conversations, I can tell you that unclear expectations are one of the most expensive problems in any organization. I regularly hear leaders talk about the importance of giving feedback that’s specific, timely, and direct. That way, the people around them always know exactly where they stand and what’s expected of them.
Give people feedback so they know where they stand – Mark Shapiro, President of WME Group
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Three hundred conversations. Hundreds of hours. And I’m still learning something new every single episode.
That’s the thing about great leadership: there’s always more to discover. Which is maybe the most important lesson of all.
If any of these clips resonated with you, I’ve pulled them all together into a playlist in the How Leaders Lead app, available for free in the Apple App Store. It’s a great way to keep honing these characteristics in your day-to-day life.
Thank you for being part of this journey of leadership learning along with me. Here’s to another 300 episodes of learning together. What top leader would you like to learn from? Drop a comment and let me know!