Doctors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have identified five practices common among effective leaders:

  • Model the Way
  • Inspire a Shared Vision
  • Challenge the Process
  • Enable Others to Act
  • Encourage the Heart

This is known as the Five Leadership Practices Model. Each practice is comprised of six specific and observable behaviors.

Kouzes and Posner’s research spans over four decades, during this time they have collected data from over 1.65 million respondents. Their validated research demonstrates that the Five Leadership Practices are positively related to both the effectiveness of leaders and the level of commitment, engagement and satisfaction of individuals who follow them. These findings are consistent across culture, gender, and age variables.