When you think of strong leaders, you may envision gruff generals making hard decisions. But 10 years of research by two business professors has uncovered some easy-to-overlook leadership skills:

• Keep everyone in the loop. Build trust by letting co-workers know before you launch a project or make a commitment that may affect them. Example: Before promising a certain product to a customer, confirm with your production team that they can meet your schedule.
• Share your expertise. While you don’t want to go around butting into your colleagues’ business, you should offer to help if you see a co-worker struggling with a problem.
• Resolve disputes. Leaders often make excellent referees. By brokering fair compromises among warring colleagues, you can enhance your stature by keeping the peace.
• Turn the other cheek. When pushed, impulsive hotheads often explode. But if you resist the bait and keep your composure, you can outlast adversaries who try to rile you.