No matter what a company or organization does, much of its effectiveness depends on its leadership. A good leader can make the operation better while a poor one can undo all the work that was done. A good leader facilitates the work being done, corrects workers on occasion, boosts others and fills any role to accomplish organizational goals. While it's difficult to define a good leader, most follow specific do's and don'ts to best set the tone of an organization.

Do Lead By Example

Strong leaders live out on the field among the action. This type of leader can do the job at hand and knows more about the scope of work than anyone else on the job. She serves as a player-coach instead of a manager. This gives her instant credibility with her followers. If she suggests taking a different course of action, she is the first to try it out without putting her followers at risk.

Do Think Ahead of the Curve

Proactive leaders see things coming before anyone else. They're seldom blindsided by a crisis; instead they have already made their preparations. Strong leaders also follow the trends of the industry, can interpret what they mean and use the information to get a jump on everybody else.

Do Show Optimism and Energy

A leader's mentality rubs off on his crew. If you're optimistic and energetic on the job, your workers notice it and are likely to start behaving the same way.

Do Be Consistent

If you selectively enforce policy, you won't be trusted. You'll give the perception that you treat your favorites differently, even if that's not true. A good leader keeps the same rules for all his team members and enforces them the same way every time.

Do Trust Your Crew

Micromanagement sends a signal to your crew that you don't trust them. In addition, micromanagement wears out a leader as he's caught up in detail work. Strong leaders delegate much of their work and allow their followers to complete the work in their own styles.

Don't Focus on mistakes

If your crew is afraid to make a mistake, something's wrong. Putting too much emphasis on mistakes robs them of any initiative on the job or incentive to learn new things.

Don't Play the Blame Game

If something goes wrong on the job, it's tempting to find out who made the mistake. Rather than worrying about placing blame, a good leader focuses on a solution. If you make a mistake, admit it and move on instead of trying to find a scapegoat. Your underlings appreciate a leader who won't throw them under the bus just to save face.

Don't Isolate Yourself

If you lock yourself in your office, your crew will think you're unapproachable or just don't care what goes on with their work. A good leader limits his office time, mingles with his crew on the job and asks where he can help.