Not every company on the planet has had poor results through the recession. Some have continued to achieve remarkable results and deliver incredible performances. The challenge for leaders of every long-term successful company is to continually remind the employees and suppliers of what got them there.

The real test of leadership is not in the moment, but in the long term. Of course, the decisions you make at any moment can positively or negatively affect the long-term health of the business.

Have you ever seen a leader swoop in and be the hero of the moment only to guide the organization to long-term failure? What good is that?

As the world-wide economy continues to improve, there will be a host of leaders who will be determined to show that they are getting great results right now. You might even be one of them. I'm encouraging you to do your best to focus on long-term success as well as the next quarterly report. Here are five ideas on leading for sustained success.

It's been my experience that people tend to reflect the leaders they most admire. If they admire someone who is always sarcastic and cynical, then they tend to become more sarcastic and cynical. If they admire a leader who is always down-to-earth and friendly, they tend to be that way. Be very careful about the leaders you choose to be your role models.

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