A good leader is consistent. From child rearing to dealing with a group of consultants, it's important that you be consistent. If you want something done a certain way on Monday, you want it done the same way on Tuesday, unless new technology or some unexpected events dictate otherwise. The manager who constantly changes how things are done confuses team members.

Likewise, the manager who favors one team member over others causes dissention in the ranks. The way in which you conduct yourself, your decisionmaking, and your level of respect for your team should remain consistent. This way, people come to know what to expect of you and what you expect of them. A Jekyll and Hyde personality can hurt team morale if they don't know who they'll find sitting in your chair when you swivel around to talk with them.

Consistency does not mean inflexibility, however. Changing your style of leadership to fit a particular situation is part of the project management process. If you are used to making unilateral decisions but this aspect of the project requires a consensus, then you will have to change your approach. The same is true for becoming more task oriented when necessary. Consistency means reacting in the same manner each time a situation arises. For example, every time the project is close to falling behind, you will switch to a more task-oriented approach. You will still remain the lovable leader, but you'll have to be more focused on everyone just buckling down and focusing on their work.