Leadership by Example
Posted: December 14, 2020
A common parental saying is "Do as I say, not as I do." While this phrase is fun to say it is not the best form of leadership. It is very easy to tell someone to act a certain way. Just about anyone can tell you to "work hard" or "eat healthy." However, if those around around you are lazy and constantly eat junk food, naturally following this advice becomes harder.
The people we surround ourself with hold a great deal of influence over us, and vice versa. Therefore, if we expect the people around us to act a certain way, we must first look inward and examine our own behavior. If we want our family to be more respectful towards each other, we must start by being respectful towards them. If we want our employees to greet every customer with a smile, then we must first greet every employee with a smile.
Once you start leading by example, you may find that people will just naturally start emulating you. When we start being our best selves, then naturally the people around us will want to well. Your own behavior is a powerful tool, it can be used to build up and guide those around you, or to alienate them and turn you into a hypocrite. So choose your actions wisely and lead by example.