While leaders and teams may be judged on results, their consistent actions and behaviors are what deserve our attention.   This is because it is the actions of the leader that define them. Below are a list of actions the best leaders practice.

10 actions of exemplary leaders

1. Act with integrity: The evidence of exemplary leadership is found consistently in how their acts match beliefs.

2. Respect all people: Respect and listen to all points of view because each person's voice is valuable.

3. Give generously: Leaders look for opportunity to lend support to important causes of others

4. Inspire others to action: They cast a compelling vision inspiring others to follow.

5. Remove trouble makers: When the adversary comes, the exemplary leader is prepared and resolved to protect the team.

6. Create safe places: They make every environment safer for their teams to do their best work every day.

7. Walk through darkness: When teams walk through dark times, the leader walks with them.

8. Align people to their potential: People aligned to what they are designed to do, eventually deliver superior results.

9. Lead sacrificially: These leaders take hits that others shirk from and protect the team regardless the personal cost.

10. Recognize achievements: Praise and recognition belong to those who do the work. The best leaders find ways to make this happen.

Leadership coach and teacher John Maxwell wrote, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. His book outlines leadership principals challenging the hierarchical leadership model employed in many organizations today.