Most of us know a leader when we see one. There are people who simply walk into a room and command respect while asserting a quiet authority. They can motivate others in a unified direction with just a few well-chosen words and actions. They provide direction, instruction, innovation, demonstration, guidance and support. They inspire growth in any organization. And guess what? They don’t always have a leadership title.

Being a great leader doesn’t magically happen when a certain title is added to an employee’s business card. In fact, according to author and motivational speaker Robin Sharma, an organization’s best leaders are often those without titles. He says everyone should be encouraged to “lead where you stand,” meaning to lead by example and be the best possible self-storage owner, manager, supervisor, etc., you can be. Strive for excellence in everything you do, so others will naturally look to you. The goal isn’t perfection but rather honesty, transparency and ingenuity. These traits are relatable and respected. They’re the leadership characteristics your team will pick up on the most.

There’s a big difference between “demanding” and “commanding.” Some people demand respect based on their position or rank. They believe they’ve “earned” it because of their title alone. In contrast, someone who commands your respect doesn’t boast about their title or position. They naturally garner esteem because they put in the work, inspire others and care about outcomes. There’s a real gap between expecting people to follow you out of fear or obligation vs. compelling followers through genuine admiration and influence.

Whatever your role in the self-storage industry, you can be leader, just based on the characteristics you embrace or avoid. Let’s look at those that can make you stronger or weaker, and how to leverage them in your industry career.

Qualities to Embrace

In general, an effective leader is someone others will follow, who inspires or motivates people to meet a goal, or helps themselves and others to do the right things for the right reasons. To become one, there are several qualities you should strive to personify. Here are 10 that can make a direct, tangible impact on your self-storage organization:

Qualities to Avoid

Of course, there are also characteristics at the opposite end of the spectrum that can derail your effectiveness as a self-storage leader. Here are seven signs that may indicate you need to improve your skills:

Neglecting others’ career growth. If you’re comfortable with people in your organization coming to work every day, doing the same mundane tasks for five, 10 or 15 years with no professional development, you aren’t a leader; you’re an average manager at best. What separates great companies from good ones is an ability to cultivate great leaders throughout the organization.

Lacking respect. If you don’t demonstrate respect for your teammates’ lives, knowledge, experience and ideas, how can you expect to receive in return? We’re all human, with the same struggles and necessities in life. Treat everyone with esteem and dignity, always.

Treating people like worker bees. If you expect your people to show up day after day without breaks and time off to relax and recharge, you have no clue that you’re damaging your most important asset! When inspired and motivated, the people who operate your business are valuable and irreplaceable. Remember, all batteries must be well-charged for optimal performance!

Failing to put people first. Making business decisions with only dollar signs in mind is a surefire way to alienate your team. This can result in resentment, a negative culture, and/or frequent and costly staff turnover. Decisions should always be made with a realistic look at how it will affect employees, including what they can handle and if the directive is the right thing for them. Take care of your people and they’ll do their best for you.

Being a poor communicator. If you find your employees seek advice or instruction from others within your organization, that’s a big sign your team doesn’t trust you. This could stem from an inability to listen and empathize or a failure to provide positive encouragement and instruction. Either way, this would indicate your communication skills are lacking and in need of improvement.

Demanding rather than influencing. If you find people only do what you say because you told them to—without passion or a desire from within—you’re a Demander, not a Commander. Influence means empowering others to achieve their goals and bringing out the best in people. It sometimes requires putting their needs ahead of your own and helping them develop and improve. Good leaders get everyone rowing in the same direction because each team member wants to reach the goals you set together.

Lacking integrity in decision-making. When questionable decisions result in your financial gain or personal benefit, employees know. And if they know, you've already lost the battle for their respect. Leading by example and demonstrating integrity can say a lot about you. Who you are in relation to others will ultimately determine your level of success as a leader.

Work to Achieve

Becoming a leader isn’t natural for everyone, but it can be achieved with determination and purpose. It should be the goal of any self-storage owner, supervisor and manager. Why? Because it’ll positively impact customers and the business.

Effective leadership has a trickle-down effect that sprinkles seeds at the lower levels of an organization and sprouts qualities that result in increased performance, higher profit and engagement, and reduced employee burnout and turnover. When its wielded effectively, it’ll help your organization grow in size and income as well as industry and market authority.

Stacie Maxwell is vice president of marketing and training for Universal Storage Group (USG), a self-storage consulting and management firm, where she oversees branding, design, marketing, public relations and more for the company’s 70-plus property portfolio. With more than 20 years of industry experience, she also works closely on USG’s facility-development and transition projects, and is responsible for driving the manager-training program and new-store startup teams. Stacie is a regular speaker at industry events and contributes to publications. To reach her, call 770.285.0421 or visit her profile on LinkedIn.