9 habits of exceptional leaders, according to the classic book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' Dale Carnegie recognized the demand for leadership training about a century ago and began teaching personal success and public speaking classes that became immensely popular. Leaders need to point out when their team members aren't meeting expectations or need to be disciplined, but this should be done in a graceful way that doesn't plant the seeds of resentment, Carnegie said. Unless one of the people below them makes an egregious error, it is worth giving the other person the benefit of the doubt, Carnegie said. Schwab was passing through one of his mills when he noticed employees smoking by a sign demanding they refrain from the activity on the premises. [...] even from a practical standpoint, it's in a leader's favor to remain on good terms with an employee who didn't work out, since it's possible they will cross paths again, and a single irate former employee can have motivation to ruin their former boss' reputation. Carnegie said that "if you want to improve a person in a certain respect, act as though that particular trait were already one of his or her outstanding characteristics." Napoleon inspired his troops' morale by liberally doling out titles and commendations, similar to the way Google recruits and retains top talent with unparalleled employee benefits. Warby Parker's co-CEOs say these are the 2 most important lessons they've learned as entrepreneursMeet the 13-year-old CEO who built a $200,000 business and is mentored by Daymond John48 tips on becoming more powerfulSEE ALSO: 6 habits of the most likable people