What does your organization really want from you as a leader — even when no one spells it out?

In his book Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect, author Matthew Lieberman notes that fewer than 1% of leaders are truly exceptional. Less than one percent. A strong résumé and solid competencies get you the job. But keeping it — and excelling in it — depends on the things that rarely appear in any job description.

Here are the five activities we see in leaders who reach that exceptional tier.

1. Share Their Vision

Exceptional leaders are proactive about sharing where they're headed — for the organization, for the team, and for themselves. When everyone is clear on the big picture, you get sharper role clarity and deeper engagement.

And when the vision shifts, they say so. People aren't mind readers. Nothing drains motivation faster than pouring energy into a plan that quietly changed weeks ago.

2. Engage Others

Exceptional leaders know how to engage people — and engaging isn't the same as assigning. Your role isn't just about the tasks you were hired to do; it's about the people you enroll to do them with you. That means communicating in a way that builds genuine buy-in and trust, not just compliance.

3. Deliver Results

Being liked and being knowledgeable are assets, but they don't stand alone. As a leader, you're responsible for meeting real performance expectations. Make sure you understand exactly what's expected of you — and revisit those expectations with your leadership team at regular intervals, so you're never guessing.

4. Develop Others

You maintain an investment in your home or your car. Your people deserve the same care. Employees perform at their best when you invest in their ongoing growth. Are you giving your team upgraded tools, meaningful training, and real opportunities to learn? Developing others isn't a nice-to-have — it's core to the job.

5. Model Exceptional Behavior

Leaders set the example, whether they mean to or not. Live the standards you want others to adopt: a strong work ethic, integrity, and respect will make you a role model worth following. Ask yourself honestly — what qualities do I want my team to emulate, and am I demonstrating them every day?

The Takeaway

None of these five are about raw talent or technical genius. They're about intention — sharing, engaging, delivering, developing, and modeling, consistently and on purpose. That's what moves a competent manager into the top 1%.

Pick the one where you have the most room to grow, and focus there this month.