With all diplomacy, tell customer that your product is not designed to do what he needs. Perhaps you can offer another solution for him. Let your manager know that you can complete project with better results if he is willing to move deadline back a week. I know it is easier said than done, but if you are committed to excellence taking control must be a priority.

Life Purpose - I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a purpose in life. If you don’t, all motivational and time management training in world will fail. All workshops, books, CD series and videos cannot create a purpose. They build on what you already have. If you are unclear as to your life purpose, there will be nothing to build on. When you have a compelling purpose, focusing on and achieving your goals becomes a much easier process. Finding your life purpose can start with these two questions: “What do I get most joy from?” “What was I doing last time my entire world ‘felt right’?” Your answers will give you some great insight into what your life purpose is.

Being Judgmental – Being judgmental is an exceptional waste of energy that accomplishes nothing. Diversity is spice of life. While you may not agree with or appreciate another’s attire, culture, personal habits, speech or business practices; being judgmental only harms you and hinders your ability to succeed.

Losing Emotional Control - Emotions are your internal guides and have tremendous power over how you behave. However many leaders mistakenly allow their emotions to control them, rather than guide them. Emotional suppression and outbursts create blocks between you, your employees and your loved ones. They construct walls that stop you from accomplishing your goals. If you are an emotional “stuffer” or explode easily, please take time to seek help you need. Progressive Leaders will tell you that emotional consistency is a tremendous tool for achieving success.

Giving Up – Have you ever known someone that would throw up a white flag each and every time a complication occurred? Regardless of severity, every obstacle was immediately considered as a failure rather than a minor setback. Is that person you? Perseverance is a key quality of progressive leaders. Giving up too soon can mean sacrificing success and achievement. Before throwing in towel, exhaust every resource.

These seven deadly sins are most common ailments progressive leaders face. It is important to eliminate these things as they weaken your leadership character. It is also advisable to perform a periodic clean up in order to keep these trials from inching their way back into your life. Progressive leaders know that identification and elimination of wasteful behaviors leaves a path that’s open wide to personal and professional victory.

4.Don’t burn bridges. What happens to relationships when you place blame? You are unlikely to earn forgiveness. You are more likely to alienate yourself from your coworkers, peers, vendors and others by pointing fingers. Not only will you ruin relationships, but you will also lose trust of people who you work with.

5.Be a good role model. When others see you accepting responsibility for your actions – and when they see extraordinary results you are getting – you make statement that blame placing is not acceptable behavior. By doing so, you help promote an atmosphere of harmony and integrity.

6.Have a positive and grateful attitude. Being a progressive leader means being a highly effective leader, and accepting nothing less than excellence from yourself and others. If you are grateful for all things that happen in your life (good and bad) you simply cannot hold angry feelings toward others, or place blame where it does not belong. It takes practice to reach that level but progressive leaders understand that payoff is high!

Accepting responsibility for your actions, and those of your team, sends a loud message to others. “I am a strong leader, capable of handling my own actions and those of my team. I do not play games. I am fully prepared for challenges of my job, and additional responsibilities that come with all future promotions.” Now isn’t that better than, “But James said he was going to…?”

Carole is President and Executive Coach of Progressive Leadership, offering executive coaching, organizational development consulting and leadership development training. Improve your business relationships, communication, team performance and bottom line starting now. Visit http://www.progressiveleadership.com for more info & subscribe to Carole’s FREE Ezine.