The H.E.A.R.T. of a Leader: Five Internal Habits that Define the Way You Lead
Part 1: Happiness
Part 2: Ethics
Part 3: Attitude
Part 4: Responsibility
Part 5: Trust
If you want to grow as a leader, the first place to look isn’t your résumé—
It’s your self-awareness.
You can’t change what you don’t see.
You can’t lead others well until you learn to lead yourself first.
In his powerful five-part series, Chief John Letteney reminds us that the most effective leaders build from the inside out. Leadership doesn’t begin with tactics or talking points—it begins with habits, choices, and the quiet disciplines that shape how we show up each day.
That work starts within.
It starts with five internal practices that deepen your self-awareness and expand your capacity to lead with integrity and heart:
Happiness. Ethics. Attitude. Responsibility. Trust.
Together, they form the H.E.A.R.T. of a leader.
Let’s break them down—and more importantly, live them out.
H – Happiness is a Choice, Not a Circumstance
Let’s be honest—public safety is hard. Stress runs high. Gratitude runs low.
But that’s exactly why your own happiness matters so much.
Science shows that happiness isn’t about having it easy—it’s about how you see your life.
Only 10% of your happiness is based on circumstances. The other 90% is shaped by your mindset and habits (Lyubomirsky, 2007).
And the benefits?
Happier people have stronger immune systems (Cohen et al., 2003)
They live longer, healthier lives (Danner et al., 2001)
They bounce back faster from stress—something every leader needs.
Five quick ways to boost happiness:
Be kind – Show up with respect and humanity.
Stay present – Don’t live in the “what ifs.”
Express gratitude – Thank someone out loud.
Find the good – Even in hard situations.
Practice forgiveness – Let go, not for them—but for you.
A happy leader is a resilient, contagious one. It starts inside—and it spreads.
E – Ethics: Character Is Built, Not Branded
Everyone thinks they’re ethical. But real character isn’t about intentions—it’s about daily decisions.
Aristotle said character is formed by habit. It’s built—or eroded—by the choices we make when no one’s watching.
In law enforcement, “ethical erosion” is the slow, dangerous slide of what’s acceptable. It doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in the grey areas. In the rationalizations. In the moments you let something slide “just this once.”
As a leader, you’re not just making choices—you’re modeling a standard. And that standard shapes the culture.
“You’ll rate yourself as ethical 100% of the time. But ask: am I making fewer ethical compromises today than yesterday?”
Stay alert. Stay humble. Stay committed to growth.
The minute you stop guarding your character, you start giving it away.
A – Attitude: Choose It Before the Crisis Hits
Attitude isn’t what you feel in the moment—it’s what you’ve practiced before it.
Chief Letteney reminds us of Captain “Sully” Sullenberger—the man who landed a jet on the Hudson River after both engines failed. Calm, focused, positive. But that mindset wasn’t built in the cockpit that day. It was built over years of practice.
Attitude is your internal compass—and whether you’re leading in chaos or calm, it determines how others respond to you.
Don’t wait for the storm to choose your outlook.
Choose it now. Practice it daily. Make positivity a discipline.
Because when things go sideways, your team won’t follow your words.
They’ll follow your presence.
R – Responsibility: Own the Role. Own the Impact.
Responsibility isn’t about blame—it’s about ownership.
Leaders take responsibility even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
That means:
Modeling self-discipline and self-awareness
Taking accountability for your choices
Preparing yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally
Seeing your team’s success and failure as reflections of your leadership
Responsibility is how you earn the right to influence.
As Lincoln said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
If you’re a leader in name, be a leader in behavior.
Show up prepared, consistent, and ready to grow.
Because every decision you make today shapes someone else’s tomorrow.
T – Trust vs. Suspicion: Lead From the Place You Want Others to Follow
This one hits home in public safety. When you’ve seen the worst in people, it’s easy to become guarded—even cynical. But a suspicious mindset, while protective on the street, becomes toxic in leadership.
Trust is the foundation of influence.
It improves:
Communication
Morale
Productivity
Innovation
And according to Paul Zak’s neuroscience research, trust at work directly boosts oxytocin in the brain, improving physical and emotional health (Zak, 2017).
That doesn’t mean you throw discernment out the window.
But it does mean you lead with openness, transparency, and belief in your people—because people rise to the level of trust they feel.
If you start from trust, others will trust you.
If you start from suspicion, others will guard themselves—and so will their potential.
Call to Action: Lead With H.E.A.R.T. This Week
Leadership is personal. It starts with you.
So this week, focus inward. Every day, take one of the H.E.A.R.T. principles and practice it with intention:
Monday – Choose happiness. Do one thing that brings joy to you or someone else.
Tuesday – Reflect on ethics. Where can you model integrity a little more clearly?
Wednesday – Practice attitude. Choose your mindset in a tough moment.
Thursday – Own responsibility. Acknowledge a mistake—or a win—and grow from it.
Friday – Build trust. Start from belief. Lead a conversation with curiosity, not suspicion.
Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up with presence, clarity, and heart.
Because when you lead with heart, people don’t just follow—they believe.