"You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case." — Ken Kesey
Whether you
realize it or not, if you're a leader, your employees are watching every move
you make. Good leaders must lead by example. By walking your talk, you become a
person others want to follow. When leaders say one thing, but do another, they
erode trust--a critical element of productive leadership.
Leading by
example sounds easy, but few leaders are consistent with this one. Successful
leaders practice what they preach and are mindful of their actions. They know
everyone is watching them and therefore are incredibly intuitive about
detecting those who are observing their every move, waiting to detect a
performance shortfall.
Leaders must
lead with their actions as well as their words. Leaders can effectively
translate intention into reality by acting on the concepts and messages they
teach and the things they say to those around them. Leadership is the act of
setting the right example for those who follow. Leadership is about actively
demonstrating your belief, not just talking about it. People who say one thing
but do another eventually lose credibility.
Leaders are not
afraid to jump into the ‘trenches’ and do some of the work themselves. They
also encourage team members to take risks and support them when they do. Being
a hands on manager will inspire and motivate the team to achieve greater
things.
When you “walk
the talk,” your behavior becomes a catalyst for people’s trust and faith in
you. And it also emphasizes what you stand for. Leading by example shows people
exactly what you expect and gives them living proof that it can be done. On a
deeper level, leading by example and being as good as your words builds trust.
It’s a sign that you take what you say seriously so they can, too.
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