---
reference_type: Principle
reference_id: P7-06
edition: PMBOK7
name: Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors
version: "1.0.1"
status: Active
historical_note: "This is a PMBOK 7 principle. In PMBOK 8, leadership behaviors were consolidated into P4 \u2014 Be an Accountable Leader (Standard \u00a73.6). This file is retained for historical reference and cross-edition traceability only."
pmbok7_source: "PMBOK7 Standard \u2014 Principle 6: Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors"
pmbok8_crosswalk: "P4 \u2014 Be an Accountable Leader (PMBOK8 Standard \u00a73.6)"
authority: PMI-derived
---

# P7-06 — Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors
**Type:** Principle (PMBOK 7 — Historical Reference)
**Edition:** PMBOK 7th Edition
**PMBOK 7 Source:** PMBOK 7 Standard — Principle 6: Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors
**PMBOK 8 Crosswalk:** P4 — Be an Accountable Leader (Standard §3.6)
**Version:** 1.0.1

> ⚠️ **Historical Reference Only.** This file describes a PMBOK 7 principle retained for
> cross-edition traceability. PMBOK 8 consolidated leadership behaviors into the
> sixth principle *Be an Accountable Leader* (§3.6). For current guidance, see
> `reference/principles/P06-leadership-accountable.md` or the PRINCIPLES-CROSSWALK.md.

## Definition
PMBOK 7 Standard Principle 6 established that effective project delivery requires leadership behaviors at all levels of the project — not only from the project manager or those in formal authority positions. Leadership is fundamentally distinct from authority: it is the capacity to influence, inspire, and guide others toward shared goals through behavior, not through positional power. Leadership behaviors include motivating and inspiring team members, communicating with clarity and purpose, modeling the behaviors the project requires, creating the conditions for team success, managing conflict constructively, facilitating decision-making, and accepting accountability for outcomes. Effective leaders adapt their style to the context, the individuals involved, and the nature of the work — and they develop leadership capacity in others as a deliberate act of stewardship.

## Key Characteristics
- **Leadership distinct from authority:** Leadership influence is earned through demonstrated competence, integrity, and care — it does not automatically accompany a project management title or organizational position.
- **Distributed leadership:** Leadership behaviors are needed at all levels of the project team and can be demonstrated by any team member — not reserved for the project manager or sponsor.
- **Clarity and purposeful communication:** Effective leaders communicate in ways that reduce ambiguity, align the team on priorities, and help individuals understand how their work connects to the project’s purpose.
- **Conflict management:** Leaders address conflict constructively — neither ignoring it nor escalating unnecessarily — recognizing that managed conflict can strengthen team relationships and improve decision quality.
- **Adaptive leadership style:** Effective leaders adapt their style — directive, coaching, facilitative, or supportive — based on the individual’s needs, the team’s development stage, and the situational context.
- **Modeling desired behaviors:** Leaders create the behavioral norms of the project by what they do, not only what they say — demonstrating accountability, transparency, respect, and commitment that they expect from others.

## Relationship to Other PMBOK 7 Principles
| Principle | Relationship |
|---|---|
| P7-02 — Create a Collaborative Project Team Environment | Leadership is the primary enabler of collaborative team environments — leaders establish the psychological safety, operating norms, and interpersonal trust that collaboration requires. |
| P7-03 — Effectively Engage with Stakeholders | Leadership enables effective stakeholder engagement — leaders build credibility with sponsors and key stakeholders, navigate political dynamics, and exercise influence to maintain alignment and commitment. |
| P7-09 — Navigate Complexity | Leadership is especially critical in complex environments where uncertainty is high and the team requires more than process guidance. |
| P7-01 — Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward | Leadership and stewardship intersect in the domain of accountability — leaders who model stewardship behaviors reinforce the culture of integrity, transparency, and responsibility. |

## Artifact Connections
| Artifact | Connection |
|---|---|
| A25 — Team Operating and Responsibility Record | Captures the leadership operating model for the team — role responsibilities, decision authority, escalation paths, and behavioral norms. |
| A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record | Defines the formal boundaries of leadership authority — clarifying where project manager decision rights begin and end and how governance oversight operates. |
| A07 — Stakeholder Register and Engagement Strategy | Leadership engagement with sponsors and key stakeholders is a critical dimension of effective project leadership. |

## Skill Connections
| Skill ID | Skill Name | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| SKL-04-04 | Develop Team | Leadership in team development: coaching, building cohesion, and creating the conditions for performance improvement. |
| SKL-04-05 | Manage Team | Leadership in performance management: honest feedback, recognizing contributions, and managing conflict constructively. |
| SKL-04-06 | Manage Stakeholder Engagement | Building trust, managing expectations, and maintaining alignment across diverse stakeholder groups. |

## Questions to Ask in Practice
1. Am I influencing this project’s outcomes through demonstrated leadership behaviors — or relying primarily on positional authority?
2. Are there team members not in formal authority positions demonstrating strong leadership — and am I creating space for them to lead?
3. How am I adapting my leadership style to the individual needs of different team members?
4. When conflict arises, am I addressing it constructively and promptly?
5. What behaviors am I modeling that the team is likely to replicate?

*Authority: PMBOK 7 Standard — Principle 6 · PMBOK 8 crosswalk: Standard §3.6 Be an Accountable Leader · Source type: PMI-derived (historical)*
*Repository: https://github.com/fakhruldeen/PMOSkills*
