Paul Russell gives us a quick insight into what makes a successful modern leader.

Whether it is business, community, politics or sports, all need successful leaders; men and women who can inspire those around them to reach deep within themselves to get things done. The old saying, ‘leaders are created, not born’ still holds true. Leadership is a combination of science, art and hard work; it is knowing how to get the best out of people, creating a vision that motivates and excites, developing and maintaining a positive, ambitious and productive environment, and yes, some old fashioned hard work. The good news is that anyone can learn how to become a successful leader. Here are five good habits to cultivate:

A strong work ethic

Great leaders work hard to be a success. My father used to say that the only place that money and success come before work is in the dictionary. Successful leaders are relentless in the pursuit of their goals and are constantly striving to be the best leader they can be which is a very strong motivator for their team; after all if their leader works with drive and determination, they are far more likely to do the same.

Remain calm and collected

It’s a tough world out there, especially for businesses and the people leading them but no matter what the situation, a great leader stays calm and composed; they don’t lose their cool with subordinates, clients and co-workers, but rather use considered communication to solve problems. A great leader stands tall in times of crises and inspires others, they lead from the front and show team members how to handle tough situations with confidence and poise.

Maintain integrity

Honesty and fairness are two qualities that everyone wants from their leaders; team members rightly expect fair and equal opportunities when it comes to promotions, workload and training and they will respect leaders who are honest with them and act with integrity. Honesty allows obstacles to be addressed rather than brushed under the carpet, ensuring more effective assessment and team growth.

Encourage teamwork

Teamwork is important to the success of every leader. Successful leaders do not attempt, nor even want, to accomplish everything alone; they see the qualities of individuals and do their utmost to nurture and develop these qualities into workplace skills with mentoring and training as required. Great leaders encourage an environment of support and openness within the team, they give praise when it is due and celebrate team successes.

Show faith in yourself and your people

Successful leaders have faith in the decisions they make and in the vision that they have for the organisation, and they are able to share this vision with team members, motivating and involving them in achieving it. The best leaders show faith in their own ability and in the teams’ ability to accomplish the task at hand. There may be setbacks; but successful leaders don’t get disheartened or let it affect their team, they use lessons from setbacks to improve their own performance and overall team performance. Leaders learn from their mistakes and keep striding forward.

Leadership is noticing talent, nurturing and developing it, demonstrating that efforts to work hard will not go unnoticed, leading from the front, motivating and inspiring, creating a vision and striving for it as a united team. No-one said being a leader was easy, but it can certainly be rewarding. So whether you are new to being a leader, or more experienced, try cultivating the five habits of leadership in your working week, you team will thank you for it.

Paul Russell is co-founder and director of The Luxury Academy. Luxury Academy specialises in leadership, communication and business etiquette training for companies and private clients across a wide range of sectors. Prior to founding Luxury Academy, Paul worked in senior leadership roles across Europe, United States, Middle East and Asia. A dynamic trainer and seminar leader, Paul was educated at the University of London and holds a degree in Behavioural Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Workplace Psychology