The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: how to make extraordinary things happen

“Leadership is a relationship. It’s personal, it’s interpersonal: you've got to put your heart into it. We owe it to others to make them better, more capable, less dependent. That is the moral work of leadership.”

In this episode of Rethinking Leadership, Roemer Visser speaks with Barry Posner, Professor of Leadership at Santa Clara University and co-author of the classic The Leadership Challenge, about what 40 years of global research reveal about the true nature of leadership and why the fundamentals have not changed, even though the world has.

Their dialogue moves from research to real experience, revealing how these insights play out in the day-to-day realities of leading people.

The five behavioral practices that stand the test of time

Their research has led to the emergence of the now-iconic Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, each reflecting what real people say they do when they are at their personal best:

• Model the Way – Set the example, follow through, live your values.

• Inspire a Shared Vision – Have a compelling future focus and involve others.

• Challenge the Process – Experiment, take risks, learn from mistakes.

• Enable Others to Act – Strengthen others, build trust, foster collaboration.

• Encourage the Heart – Recognize contributions, celebrate progress, show appreciation.

These practices have appeared consistently across countries, industries, generations, and now hybrid workplaces.

Posner notes that in remote and hybrid settings, leaders must practice these behaviors more intentionally, because you no longer “bump into” people naturally. Without those spontaneous moments, being conscious and deliberate becomes essential.

Leadership begins with the heart

Although the model is behavioral, Posner stresses that leadership cannot be reduced to a checklist. “Leadership is a matter of the heart. People need to know that they matter, that you see them, that you get them.” This is where leadership becomes moral work. Managers operate within contracts; leaders operate within relationships.

Liberating the leader within

One of the most powerful themes in Posner’s writing is the idea that everyone has leadership potential and that many people never realize it simply because no one helped them see it. In their conversation, Roemer shares a striking example of this: a woman who had spent nearly two decades believing she “wasn’t leadership material” because of an early assessment, only to discover later in her career that this limiting belief had become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Once that assumption was challenged, her development accelerated. Posner recognizes the pattern immediately: “Our challenge is to liberate the leader within every person.”

The hardest part of leadership? Doing it.

When Roemer asked how his thinking has changed over four decades, Posner laughs: “It’s really hard to do.” The fundamentals are simple, but the practice is demanding, especially in a fast-moving, hybrid, always-recorded environment. Leaders must bring clarity, consistency, and presence even when the pressure is high. Yet the challenge is what makes leadership meaningful. It is precisely in the struggle that growth happens.

Curious how to bring more heart, courage, and behavioral clarity into your leadership?

Listen to the full conversation on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

About Barry Posner

Barry Z. Posner is Faculty Endowed Professor of Leadership and Chair of the Management & Entrepreneurship Department at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. He has been recognized as one of the top 50 leadership coaches in America, ranked among the most influential thinkers in the world by HR magazine, and listed among the top 75 leadership and management experts in the world by Inc magazine. He's the coauthor, together with Jim Kouzes, of the bestselling leadership book called The Leadership Challenge, of which more than 3 million copies have been sold, and he has published more than 100 articles in the world's top tier academic journals. He has worked with organizations such as Amazon Applied Materials, Ikea, Northrop Grumman, and Petronas, among many others, and has spoken all over the world.

About Roemer Visser

Host Roemer Visser is an expert on the human side of organizations and is Executive Professor and Academic Director of the Executive MBA at TIAS.

About the Rethinking Leadership podcast

Deep conversations, fresh insights—leadership, re-examined.

In the Rethinking Leadership podcast, we dive into the complexity of leadership. Whether you’re working to earn trust, to grant trust, or to inspire others with your stories, leadership is always a challenge. Guided by Executive Professor Roemer Visser, we explore new perspectives and deeper insights. Listen to inspiring conversations with thought leaders and discover surprising approaches to leadership challenges.

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Ready for the next step and looking to create more impact in business and society? TIAS leadership programs are a powerful way to break through mental models and give you concrete tools to strengthen your leadership and management capabilities. In our broad portfolio of MBAs, Masters, Advanced Programs, and Master Classes, you’ll always find a program that aligns with your ambitions and career stage. We can also deliver all our programs InCompany.