Go Ahead, Steal a Leadership Style

To become the best leader you can be, you must start by being a version of the leaders you most admire.

- ADAM BORNSTEIN

Q  People often talk about what kind of leader they are-but as a first-time founder, I don't really know. How do I figure that out? -LIZA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

YOU SHOULDN'T copy most things-like product ideas, marketing copy, or someone else's homework. But you can copy leadership techniques.

There's no shame in this! Most great leaders credit the lessons of those who came before them. I've built six companies (and currently manage four), and most of my best leadership qualities were borrowed.

But here's the thing: Your job isn't to just blindly follow someone else. Instead, it's to assess what they did-how and why they took that approach-and then determine if those methods fit your personality and the culture you want to create. To get you started, here are three ideas to steal from leaders I've admired:

1. Celebrate everyone.