3. A flowing, non-stop motion is very intentional. There are few things more beautiful than a leader who knows how and when to listen and where and when to speak, the times to agree and to dissent, when to stay with the group and those other times when to go out on a limb. Just as the window washer intentionally follows a specific pattern, the successful leader never allows these moments to be chance events. Instead, they are always intentional. While employees sometimes want to be inquisitive, your peers want to be connected with you. With intimacy comes great trust and loyalty.

A consistent engagement with your team on a personal level (within the business environment) turns your role from that of a boss to one of a fearless leader, mentor and teacher. This intimacy comes when you go beyond their favorite sports team to learn about their childhood passions, when you understand how their family’s immigration experience deeply affected their outlook on international business and that their self-directed nature comes from their Eagle Scout training.

To the inexperienced leader, these characteristics are mere factoids. The best peer leaders know that an understanding of these experiences and traits lead to unbreakable loyalty, an impassioned work ethic and, most importantly to the company’s owners—higher profits.

4. Your secret formula keeps you useful. Famous chefs sometimes share their secret recipes, for they know what many of us have learned after carefully following the same recipe three times: there are just some techniques that can’t be explained with words. Food rarely tastes the same way twice and rarely as good as it does in your favorite restaurant.

The window washer humorously refused to share the ingredients in his bucket for fear of being replaced. The best peer leaders are afraid that their talents and “secret concoction” may go unused, so they focus on how their team is furthering the company’s mission. When leading a group of your peers, you must have a firm hold on the secret formula that lies within you.

Ask your team members what they believe to be your “secret sauce” and be ready to listen without judging their responses. You may find that your team wants you to talk more at meetings, even though you might think you talk too much. Your team may want you to consult them but ultimately make a firm decision, while you may lead by consensus for you fear making decisions alone. When your team tells you what they want, find a way to do what they have asked.

Dolly Parton said, “Figure out who you are and then do it on purpose.” All of what you do as a leader must be naturally intentional, obviously purposeful yet elegantly skillful.

Kevin E. O’Connor is a facilitator, medical educator, and author. He focuses on teaching influence to scientific and technical professionals who are charged with leading teams of their former peers. Website: www.kevinoc.com.