FAQ

The Five Practices® is a research-based framework developed by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner for developing leadership effectiveness. It identifies five key practices, each comprised of six behaviors that differentiate exemplary leaders: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. Learn more about The Five Practices here.

Decades of research by Kouzes and Posner revealed 30 common behaviors of exemplary leaders. They interviewed more than 5,000 leaders across industries and found five key practices that set them apart: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. These practices continue to be validated through ongoing research, forming the evidenced-based foundation of The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.

The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership model began taking shape in 1983 through research by Kouzes and Posner. The authors’ ongoing research continues, ensuring the practices stay relevant for today's leaders.

The Characteristics of Admired Leaders study pre-dates The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership model and is based on what people look for in their leaders. The research is conducted through surveys asking people to identify characteristics they most look for and admire in their leaders. Well into the fifth decade of collecting this data, Kouzes and Posner have found that while many things in the world have changed, the top four Characteristics of Admired Leaders have not: people admire leaders who are honest, competent, inspiring, and forward-looking. Learn more about the Characteristics of Admired Leaders here.