1. The first step to being a successful leader is being PREPARED. This means a few important things. The first thing is lifestyle. Healthy habits lead to healthy decisions. The Second is understanding the dynamics of your Organization and Staff. This means not only understanding the “what” and “why”, but also ‘WHO” you are working with. Third is comprehension. You must understand the goal before you can complete it. This means taking the extra steps to ensure you understand what it is you are being asked to complete, while being confident you can deliver successfully.