Being a great leader has far less to do with the things you do in front of people and far more with the stuff behind the scenes when no one is looking. Being the go-to person for a group of people means leading them by example and with integrity.

Here are five ways to be the kind of leader you know your people deserve and, in the process, get the fantastic success you want.

1. Forgive and Forget

Everyone makes mistakes – big ones and small ones. Outstanding leadership means letting go of those mistakes when others make them so that solutions can be implemented and progress can go on. Let it go if someone in your charge breaks a rule that will cause severe and long-lasting issues.

There is no reason to hold onto mistakes within a group, and it only leads to poisonous feelings that will undermine the ability of the team to work together. One mistake (or even a few) does not a wrong person make. Move on, and communicate that this is your philosophy to instill integrity and a willingness to take risks.

1. Empower Others to Make Decisions

Being a leader isn’t about making every single decision. The best and most efficient leaders know how to trust the people around them and let those people make the decisions when needed. Often it’s the people closest to a situation who can understand all the variables and make the best decisions.

Let go of some of that control and trust the good people around you to make empowered choices. You’ll be rewarded with excellent results.

1. Allow Natural Consequences

It is not your job to prevent every possible adverse event. Fantastic leadership includes allowing people to fail and to experience those consequences. People learn from failure; it’s arguably the best teacher.

Let them fall to get more out of those in your charge, then support them as they pick themselves back up. You don’t need to pick them up; encourage them to look over their mistakes and to improve for the next time. Be careful not to make it about “I told you so’s” or shaming, but rather about empowerment and trust.

1. Offer Support Without Ego

Your job is to be there for the people looking to you, not to take credit for their accomplishments – no matter how much of a part you played in the process. It’s unnecessary to point out how you have saved the day when someone makes a mistake – they know. By staying silent and being there to come out of the wings when there’s an issue, you’ll help everyone feel invested in the group and feel as though the team is there to offer the kind of support that allows remedy situations. 

1. Look At Yourself

The most outstanding leaders are those who consistently feel they could improve themselves. It would help if you always went home feeling like you have more to give and put out there. Self-confidence coupled with understanding what you have left to improve upon is the key to being the kind of leader that fosters success.

Model your leadership after integrity, empowerment, and discretion to be the powerful force that creates a cohesive, functional, and thriving environment for everyone.