Issue No. 10 | Everyday Habits to Improve your Leadership Skills
If you’re anything like me, you don’t learn by memorizing chapters in textbooks or taking notes in a lecture hall. I wasn’t exactly the “highlight the textbook” type in school and could zone out fairly quickly during a university lecture. Maybe it was the dry topics … maybe it was the undiagnosed ADHD. Who’s to say.
No disrespect to formal education (I did go that route myself after all), but here’s what I do know: all the leadership skills I have today came from real life lessons. I have boot strapped my education through hands-on experience, working with other mentors and leaders, and of course, good old trial and error
Over the years, I have learned to take what actually resonates, ignore what doesn’t, and extract a leadership lesson from just about anywhere. There is still a phrase I use to this day that I picked up in conversation with one of my first HR Managers.
I’ve had training that was incredible and training that was not so incredible. But even the “bad” stuff teaches you something — usually what not to do. And that still counts, right?
Well, if you’re like me and don’t learn and retain from lessons delivered to you the old fashioned way, then you are in luck my small business friend!
Leadership lessons are literally everywhere.
All you have to do is look 👀
Below is a list of all the non-your-average, think-outside-the-box approach to leadership lessons and improving your skills.
Leadership Lesson No. 1 | Make Learning a Daily Habit
Whether you prefer listening, reading, or watching… there’s something for everyone, and it’s usually free or very low-cost, right at your finger tips! Leadership content is everywhere—podcasts, YouTube, blogs (you’re literally reading one right now 😉)—delivered in every style and format you can imagine.
What I love about these methods is how easily they fit into real life. I love to listen to a podcast when I’m running errands, doing school drop-off, or out for a walk. And when I’m cooking dinner, there’s a 99% chance I have a YouTube video playing propped up against the salt shaker.
The key is finding a method that works for you—one that fits into your life and your work schedule instead of fighting against it.
Now, you may notice that when you first start exploring leadership content, a lot of it is geared toward executives or big corporations. Not exactly helpful when you’re a new manager in a small business.
But don’t worry—I’ve got you. 😊
I’m here for the small-business, first-time-leader-friendly learning you can actually use.
Leadership Lesson No. 2 | Learn from Other Leaders
This is by far one of the biggest contributors to my growth.
I have been very fortunate to have worked under some incredible managers and leaders in my time (and luckily only a couple not-so-incredible ones). Both groups taught me something — what to copy, and what to never repeat.
Start by paying attention to leaders you actually admire — past managers, current peers, business owners in your circle, or even clients you support. Notice what they do, not just what they say.
Here are a few things to look for:
How they make decisions when things get messy
How they communicate during stressful moments
How they hold people accountable without being a jerk
How they build trust with their teams
How they recover when they make mistakes
How they treat people when no one is watching
Then go one layer deeper: Why does that approach work? What makes their style effective? How could you adapt it in a way that feels authentic to you?
This is called leadership modeling — borrowing what’s tried-and-true and applying it to your own style. It’s not copying. It’s building your “leadership toolkit” faster by learning from people who already figured out the hard stuff.
And if you’re a small business owner? This is especially powerful. You may not have a big leadership team to lean on, but you do have suppliers, contractors, clients, and fellow entrepreneurs who all lead in different ways.
Leadership Lesson No. 3 | Learn from Everyday Conversations
Some of the best leadership lessons don’t come from books, courses, or workshops. They show up in the most ordinary conversations and the most random places:
Your friend venting about their micromanaging boss
A family member celebrating something their manager actually did right
A barista de-escalating a difficult customer like an absolute pro
Pay attention in conversations you’re having outside of work and you may be able to get inspired or pick up a tip or two.
Listen to the stories people tell about work.
Ask questions.
Pay attention to how situations were handled — or mishandled.
These real-life conversations teach you:
What great leadership looks like
What terrible leadership looks like
And what people actually want from their leadership
Pro Tip: This is also prime practice time for active listening — a wildly underrated leadership skill.
Leadership Lesson No. 4 | Look for Lessons in Unexpected Places
Leadership isn’t confined to offices or the workplace. Expand your field of vision:
Sports teach teamwork, strategy, and reviewing performance to improve.
The military teaches clarity, communication, and adapting under pressure.
Parenting teaches patience (sometimes), empathy, and saying things 17 different ways until someone finally gets it.
You can borrow lessons from anywhere — and the best leaders do.
Leadership Lesson No. 5 | Take a Break
This might sound contradictory coming from me, but here we are.
If you’re absorbing leadership content nonstop, like truly in the thick of it — take a break.
A real one.
Just like muscles grow during rest days, you need to give your brain a break from consuming leadership topics all the time. Sometimes taking a break from what you’re trying to learn will help you gain new perspectives on problem-solving or your leadership approach.
When I’m maxed on HR or business content, I like to listen to Smartless or the Conan O’Brien podcast or I’ll watch a home decorating or cooking channel on YouTube.
Keep the Big Picture in Mind.
At the end of the day, there really is no final stop in leadership. It is ever-evolving, just like the people on your team. So, while this sounds cliché, it truly is about the journey, not the destination.
It’s important to invest in yourself and keep striving to learn and improve your skills as you grow as a leader. Staying stagnant will not help you in the long run and you’ll find you’ll eventually get left behind.
Small steps in the right direction is the way to go!