We talk about good leadership often, yet it is much easier to talk about than to actually practice it. It is often described as a “soft skill.” To deliver effective leadership requires a broad range of attributes, empathy, resilience, business acumen, positivity and emotional intelligence. When done right, it motivates the people in a business, inspires innovation, and brings people together to overcome the challenges of the toughest of times.

If you read through my past blogs you will see a pattern emerge. I find there are five key principles of effective leadership that weave through the process. And because every article I read seems to have acronyms, I figure it’s time I try it. I think effective, strategic leadership allows you to “stack the deck” in your favor. So the word of the day to represent the key principles is STACT! Steadiness, Transparency, Assurance, Concern and Teamwork.

Leading with steadiness means that you have a consistent approach to deliver on your promises successfully time and time again, building your customer’s trust in your capability, all the while building your reputation in the community in which you operate. Tying your corporate mission to the strategy makes this an easy principle to follow.

Transparency is the next key principle. A good leader ensures that every member of their team understands precisely what their role and responsibilities are through regular and clear communication. I like to hold a weekly-1-1 with the people who report directly to me where we review that week’s planned activities and ensure that those activities are moving a corporate goal forward. This is not a micromanagement session, but rather a dedicated time to sit together and talk through the issues, to truly understand the needs and to do what I can to remove obstacles so they can do their jobs. Your team should feel comfortable asking for any clarification they need to deliver their role. I often remind team members that they should never go home wondering – and if leaders are truly effective – they will support this notion through clear communication.

Leading with assurance creates an environment of confidence. When you are certain that you are basing your decisions on documented goals and a clear corporate mission, there should be no confusion about whether something is right or wrong. When everyone is confident in their role and understands their responsibilities, your ability to consistently deliver on your promises to your customers is significantly enhanced.

The concern a leader demonstrates toward staff, customers, stakeholders and the community is critical to good leadership. The care (empathy) that leaders show toward their internal team members is arguably the most important. Remember though, in a recent blog I emphasized the importance of this concern being genuine. If you truly do not care, don’t try to fake it!

Finally, but certainly not the least important, is teamwork! When you create an environment that is based on respectful, transparent, and consistent multi-directional communication, you help ensure that everyone’s skills are brought together to develop the solutions that will drive your business forward. I will caution you that there is a fine line you have to walk here, or you will quickly find yourself unable to make a decision. At some point, you must move ahead and once that decision is made, you need to execute. Weaving these key principles into your leadership activities should provide all the context you need to know what to do when.

These five principles – steadiness, transparency, assurance, concern and teamwork have been ever-present in my blogs and are key to my approach to effective leadership.