(Plus Four Bonus Principles)

by Brent Honshell

• Actively listen to those you lead. Encourage frequent feedback from subordinates.
• Trust the people you hire. Give great latitude to do the job unless an individual proves untrustworthy or incompetent.
• Tackle small problems before they become big problems. Never avoid handling a problem.
• Delegate work that is difficult, challenging, and interesting, not just unpleasant or tedious work.
• Model passion and enthusiasm so it will be caught by others. It is difficult to be unmotivated in the presence of passionate enthusiasm!
• Facilitate participation to elicit enthusiastic cooperation. Whenever possible, involve subordinates in strategic planning and important decisions. People support what they help create. Communicate clearly and often the mission and key strategic goals of the operation.
• Apply sensible flexibility in leadership styles used. A leader’s style should change to adapt to the readiness level of his followers.
• Make time for personal and professional development to remain vibrant and energized, never stagnant. Continually take classes and seminars and read about leadership to expand your knowledge and perspective.
• Practice planned, spontaneous recognition. Plan to intentionally catch an individual doing things right and immediately reinforce positive behavior with appropriate recognition and/or rewards.
• Practice proper time stewardship by arriving to work early enough to pre-plan the day using only one task list and calendar system. Remain flexible for contingencies.
• Substantially invest time and resources into training and development for subordinates. Add to their knowledge, skills, and abilities even in areas far beyond their current job description.
• Quickly admit to, sincerely apologize for, and make right a mistake or mishandled situation related to one of your subordinates.
• Identify, then slowly and carefully groom a replacement so someone is prepared when God removes you from the position or promotes you to another role. 
• Practice patience and restraint when interviewing a person for a job. Wait to make a hiring decision until you have the right candidate. It is better to operate short handed than to hire the wrong person in desperation.