Unproductive Habits Lead to the Exit Door.

• Position: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS - Leadership tips

The primary reasons CEOs are fired--mismanaging change, ignoring customers, tolerating low performers, and not enough action--often are related to unproductive habits, suggests a survey by Leadership IQ, an online training firm.

"Although leaders who display these behaviors generally know what to do, and how to do it, their unproductive habits render them unable to get things done--with dire consequences," says Mark Green, author of Activators: A CEO's Guide to Clearer Thinking and Getting Things Done. "The most-common unproductive leadership habits include avoiding decisions and conflict, maintaining comfort-zone networks, needing to be liked, neglecting to listen enough--and they are hard to break."

Green suggests replacing them with foundational habits that make leaders successful:

Capitalize on luck. This is a habit of forward-moving thinking in response to both good- and bad-luck events. "Bad luck, such as the extended absence of a key employee, affords an opportunity for the leader to empower others by challenging them to learn, grow, and contribute in new ways."

Be grateful. 'When you appreciate and value what you have, you gain a clearer perspective. A daily meeting ritual of appreciation creates space for each executive to share what he or she appreciates most, and it opens up the room to clearer thinking and increased collaboration."

Give--within limits. Research shows there are many advantages to being a giver, but striking a balance is important to remain...