4 more ways to create a culture of success

Meet with your employees regularly so you have a good idea of what their strengths, skills gaps, and interests are. Encourage them to take control of their own career development – and then help them create personalized improvement paths that will benefit them personally while increasing their value to the company. Then provide the budget and time necessary to help them achieve their goals.

Not only will this improve their ability to contribute to their vision, it will earn their gratitude and loyalty toward both you and the company as a whole.

6.  Always have their backs

When it comes right down to it, you can't inspire employee engagement without earning their loyalty first. The best way to inspire loyalty is to make sure your employees know you are always looking out for their best interests.

If you're inconsistent with your approach or style, allow your employees to take the brunt of a customer's or CEO's displeasure, take credit for their work or neglect to celebrate their successes in a public way that encourages the whole company to recognize their value – they will have a hard time trusting you.

And without trust, there is no loyalty and zero motivation to do their best.

7. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable

The key to being self-aware as a leader is a willingness to be wrong, to not know everything, to recognize that you have certain biases, and to see where your opinions may be simply getting in the way. No one has all the answers, and great leaders admit there is always plenty to learn. They encourage honest feedback – and take it to heart.

When you are willing to admit your own mistakes and genuinely listen to critical feedback – without rationalizing, justifying, or placing blame – you get to turn these moments into learning opportunities for yourself and "teachable moments" for your team. You create a more open and collaborative culture among your team members – without the pressure or fear of anyone pretending to know it all.

And that kind of authenticity and transparency is the best possible foundation on which to build a culture of success.

Exceptional leaders aren't born that way. They become exceptional by developing a unique set of attitudes and skills that are both learnable and teachable.

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