“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
If we agree that the role of a leader is to influence the actions and attitudes of his or her team, then what better way to be a leader than to act as a positive role model?
By walking the walk, you become someone that people want to follow.
As Mary Kay Ash so beautifully put it: “The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang”. Followers learn behaviours through observation. Leaders, therefore, set the trend of a workplace, by acting as a beacon of the acceptable and progressive way to do things.
So, when it comes to encouraging involvement, you, as a leader, must be the most involved team member.
“Great leaders remind themselves regularly that actions speak louder than words”
People watch more than they listen and so remind yourself on a daily basis that everything you do is being observed and copied – and act accordingly. Be careful what you say, and wary of who is listening and watching.
Know Your Stuff
To be an effective exemplary force for your team, you need to make sure that you know your industry inside out, and also be willing to work alongside them, to show that you are developing your skills and that you are willing to get your hands dirty.
You also need to be genuine and consistent. We are not talking about being seen to behaving in the right way, you must become the example. If you don’t genuinely subscribe to the behaviours you are advocating, neither will your team. ‘Leading by example’ should apply to every part of your behaviour and business life.
Giving orders is not an effective way to lead by example. You must listen to your team. Often they are more knowledgeable in their individual fields, so respect their opinion and act on it. By showing respect, you will earn the same in return. Dictatorship is a thing of the past!
The influence of a leader cannot be overestimated. Leading by example is a unique opportunity to create a culture of involvement. Think about every aspect of your working life, even your personal life, and about the example you are setting for your team.
Is it the right example? Are you acting as you hope they will? If the answer is no, then you need to make some changes if you are to be a truly effective leader.
Great leaders lead by example. Are you one of them?
If you would like to chat to us about leadership techniques, please get in touch!