Learn to say no, and put time on your calendar to think.

June 2, 2020 5 min read

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As a business leader, is your management style dependent on thesituation? Or do you instinctively adapt your style to suit specific conditions?

I interviewed Serguei Beloussov, CEO of global tech and cyber security firm Acronis, at their Global Cyber Summit in Miami, FL.When asked about his personal leadership style, Beloussov shared a story about a hockey game he attended in Finland. One of the teams was more skilled,but the other team was playing faster. While the faster team made more mistakes, their speed made itimpossible for the skillful team to keep up, and the faster team won, explained Beloussov.One thing about leadership style is that I try to operate in a situation where there is a lot of change, and in those situations, you always operate faster than its possible to organize." He went on to say thatsituations like this force you to do things that may look impossible first, andthat styles of leadership always change to meet the demands of the situation. The main thing is that you have to be detail-oriented and you have to be hands-on, and you have to be ready to adjust your style.

In todays business and economic climate its never been more critical to have the capacity to adapt. Beloussovs advice inspired me to critically think about daily habits, the ones that successful business leaders engage in every day. Here are eight habits that most business leaders tend to agree on.

Maybe its that overwhelmed feeling thats been slowing you down. The cool kids in the business world have figured out that busy-ness shouldnt be worn as a badge of honor. Warren Buffett spends a lot of time thinking, and he says its a key to his success. Take time to think. Its one of the modern luxuries of the 21st century.

Related:25 BestHabitsto Have in Life

We hear the sports analogies all the time, but they apply well to this business principle. When youre trying to assemble a winning team, your people are your players. Instead of a top-down approach to team leadership, coach-leaders activate their teams to win championships while helping players take ownership of their roles.

Too many demands on your time, especially meetings, can drain creativity and zap energy, leaving you little time to accomplish anything in a day. Its okay to say no to meetings if you dont expect to add much to the conversation. Say no more often, and youll be surprised how it impacts your productivity.

This will be a challenge at first, especially when most of us check email on our phones several times per hour. But you dont have to completely ignore your inbox throughout the day; just flag emails that may demand same-day attention, and then go back and answer them when the time is right. You will become a lot more focused if you force yourself to hold back on emailing outside of the scheduled time.

At no time has planning been more attractive than now, when so many business leaders wish they could go back six months and plan for this current reality. Now is a great time to dissect and understand what drives your business and decide what to do if that changes.

Related:12Daily Habitsof Exceptional Leaders

When is your brain firing on all cylinders? Some of the most effective business leaders prefer to wake up at 4 am and get to the office before anyone, and then spend the first four hours of the day in prime critical-thinking mode. Your pattern could be just the opposite. Start paying attention and youll find the schedule that works best for your brain.

Putting positive energy and commitment into your personal relationships will have an immediate positive effect on your career and how you interact with peers in the workplace. Just a small change in attitude can make all the difference, especially in our digital world. Pay attention to your communication style and remember to stay positive.

As much as possible, I try to push myself to do something new and potentially uncomfortable, every day. It could be something simple, like striking up a conversation with a stranger, or something more daring like agreeing to speak at a conference. Pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone causes growth, and it can also help you to make valuable connections.

Related:Daily HabitsThat Will Help Increase Productivity

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8 Daily Habits of Effective Business Leaders - Entrepreneur