Over the past year, Institute Success took a deep dive into Google's Project Oxygen — the company's data-rich study of what its very best managers actually do differently. We devoted a full article to each of the ten behaviors, because each one deserves more than a bullet point.
This is the summary. Think of it as your leadership dashboard: skim the ten behaviors, notice which one your team needs most from you right now, and click through to the full article when you're ready to go deeper.
The Ten Qualities
1. Be a good coach. The best leaders are light years from the "command and control" era. They speak less and listen more, ask powerful questions, show real empathy, give regular feedback, remove obstacles, and keep the focus on the team's success. Read more »
2. Empower your team, and don't micromanage. Let go of the minor details and give your people room to design their own path to results. When employees discover the power of their own ideas, they take ownership that lasts. Read more »
3. Create an inclusive environment and show concern for success and well-being. Google found leaders with this trait were far more likely to have an energized, engaged team. Communicate genuine care, know your people's goals, ask meaningful questions, address roadblocks honestly, and keep offering challenges. Read more »
4. Be productive and results-oriented. Being productive is not the same as being busy — an eye-opener for a lot of us. Results come from concentrated, focused time, sticking with a method long enough to see it work, and handing off non-essential work so you can lead. Read more »
5. Be a good communicator and listen to your team. Here's the counterintuitive truth: communication resides in the listener, not the speaker. Practice active listening — be fully present, ask clarifying questions, and speak less while listening more. Read more »
6. Support career development and discuss performance. Only about half of employees say they clearly understand what's expected of them at work. Close that gap. Focus on habits and attitudes as well as skills, and build a shared picture of success with each person. Read more »
7. Have a clear vision and strategy for the team. Do you have a clear vision of success — and have you actually shared it? Define your vision, learn how each team member defines theirs, then align both into a shared vision worth working toward. Read more »
8. Possess key technical skills to help advise the team. You don't need to be the smartest person in the room. You need to know what you don't know, and know how to close the gap — through learning, mentors, and your own team's expertise. Read more »
9. Collaborate across the organization. We are interdependent — your success depends on others'. Great cross-collaborators respect diverse communication styles, ask the Golden Questions before every important conversation, and build trust across departments. Read more »
10. Be a strong decision maker. As a leader, you're "ridiculously in charge." Make prompt, well-considered decisions, surround yourself with people whose expertise differs from yours, delegate execution deliberately, and always communicate the why. Read more »
Turn Research Into Results
The pattern across all ten is unmistakable: great leadership is overwhelmingly about how you engage people. Google's data simply confirmed what the best leaders have always known.
The difference between reading this list and living it is deliberate practice. Pick one behavior. Work it for a month. Then add another. That's how leaders are made.