What if the secret to becoming a great leader lies in simple habits that can inspire everyone around you?

In the world of leadership, where choices affect entire teams, one example of excellent leadership stands out: When Howard Schultz returned to Starbucks in 2008, the company was struggling. He took on the challenge of turning things around, focusing on restoring the company’s core values and culture. Schultz’s proactive approach and emphasis on values-driven leadership transformed Starbucks into a model of effective leadership that emphasizes both personal growth and team success.

When Stephen Covey’s timeless principles from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are combined with the idea of contagious leadership, leaders unlock a powerful framework that helps them and their teams achieve lasting success. By using Covey’s seven habits along with behaviors that inspire others, leaders create environments that encourage both individual growth and team success. This not only helps people excel but also benefits the entire organization. For example, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, used these habits to foster a growth mindset throughout the company. He introduced the ‘Learn It All’ culture, which encouraged employees to keep learning and embrace challenges as growth opportunities. This transformed Microsoft’s work environment into one that values innovation and learning. His proactive approach, empathy, and focus on long-term goals helped Microsoft thrive, boosting both individual and team achievements. This article explores how these principles come together to build a strong foundation for great leadership.

Building a Strong Leadership Foundation

The foundation of great leadership starts with self-mastery. Covey’s first three habits are crucial for developing a strong internal compass that guides every decision.

1. Take Responsibility for Your Actions: Leading by Example

Covey says that being proactive means taking initiative and being responsible for your actions. This leads to a powerful mindset change and ultimately improves leadership effectiveness [1][5]. As Jeff Bezos once said, “We are our choices. Build yourself a great story.” This quote highlights the importance of taking proactive steps, which aligns well with Covey’s focus on self-responsibility.

2. Set Clear Goals and Imagine Success: Creating a Strong Vision

Covey emphasizes that having a clear long-term goal helps leaders stay focused and inspires others to follow, creating a shared sense of purpose [2]. For example, Elon Musk’s vision for SpaceX—to make life multi-planetary—has changed how people view space exploration and has inspired his team to work tirelessly toward that goal. His focus and passion encourage others to commit to the shared mission.

3. Prioritize What Matters Most: Focus on High-Impact Tasks

Covey explains that focusing on key activities helps leaders align their efforts with strategic goals, making sure that important initiatives are completed effectively [2]. For example, leaders should prioritize team development and planning sessions over routine tasks since these activities have a bigger long-term impact on the organization’s success.

Working Together as a Team

Once leaders learn to master themselves, they must focus on working well with others. To build and lead a strong team, leaders need habits that encourage collaboration and trust.

4. Make Sure Everyone Wins: Building Trust and Team Success

Covey’s idea of seeking win-win solutions helps build long-term trust and strong relationships, which are essential for effective teamwork [1]. However, achieving win-win outcomes can be challenging. Leaders face obstacles like competing interests, limited resources, and different expectations. For example, balancing profitability and employee satisfaction can be tough. Leaders need to continuously assess and adjust their approach to ensure that everyone benefits. This careful balancing act shows why building win-win relationships is challenging but rewarding.

5. Listen Carefully First: Understanding Others Before Responding

To lead effectively, you must understand others first. Covey says that empathetic listening is a key skill that helps close communication gaps, allowing leaders to build stronger connections and trust within their teams [4].

How Leadership Spreads to Others

Beyond personal skills and teamwork, leadership is also contagious. People watch their leaders and often copy what they do, making values-based leadership very important.

6. Consistency Matters: Modeling the Behaviors You Want to See

Research shows that consistency in behavior builds trust, which is crucial for creating a culture of contagious excellence [5].

7. Emotional Management: Harnessing Positive Influence

Studies have shown that emotions spread through the workplace, and a leader’s emotional intelligence plays a big role in team morale [5]. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that teams led by emotionally intelligent leaders had 25% higher engagement rates than those led by less emotionally intelligent leaders. This shows just how powerful emotional contagion can be for team performance.

Keep Getting Better to Make a Big Difference

Leadership is a journey—it’s about always improving your skills and growing in different ways. For example, setting aside time each week to read leadership books or attend industry events can help leaders stay informed and keep growing. Consider Nelson Mandela, whose personal growth during years of imprisonment turned him into a global symbol of leadership, forgiveness, and unity. Mandela’s dedication to self-improvement allowed him to lead South Africa through a historic transformation.

8. Always Keep Learning: Growing to Become a Better Leader

Covey says that ongoing personal development—whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual—is key to being an effective leader [6].

How to Inspire Others with Positive Leadership

Combining The 7 Habits with contagious leadership principles creates an effective way to inspire others.

Clear Communication

Clear and open communication helps ensure everyone is on the same page and builds a culture where collaboration thrives [3]. For example, Alan Mulally, the former CEO of Ford, used clear communication to help turn the company around. He created a culture of openness, where issues were discussed honestly, and the focus was on solving problems together. His ‘One Ford’ plan encouraged leaders at all levels to communicate openly, which saved the company from bankruptcy.

Value-Based Leadership

Recognizing and valuing people’s contributions helps create a positive environment that boosts performance [3].

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Leadership Excellence

Combining The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with contagious leadership creates a well-rounded approach to effective leadership. Take Patagonia, for example. Under the leadership of Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia focused on employee well-being and environmental responsibility. The company’s culture of proactive behavior, win-win strategies, and clear communication has helped it thrive. By focusing on personal growth, teamwork, consistent positive actions, and lifelong learning, leaders can create a positive and successful organization. This approach not only makes leaders more effective but also inspires teams to do great things. True leadership is not just about what you achieve by yourself but what you inspire others to do—and this powerful framework helps leaders create a lasting legacy.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek. Start your leadership journey today and make a lasting impact. Check out our Skool channel for more resources and discussions on essential leadership skills: Skool Essential Leadership Skills.