Businesses have different types of organisational structures with varying numbers of supervisors and managers, some with long chains of command and others with only one or two people in charge of overseeing their workforce. Regardless of a business’ specific hierarchical structure, each individual with some level of responsibility has the opportunity to lead by example and inspire others to perform at their optimum level. A successful business is one where everyone feels included, valued, engaged with and respected. It has a level of cohesion between staff and subordinates. An authoritarian approach is now a tactic of bygone days and bosses are increasingly encouraged to lead their teams by example. ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ is no longer relevant in the modern workplace.
Why Is It Important To Lead by Example?
In the workplace, leading by example is important because it demonstrates the standard that staff should be working towards. Actions often speak louder than the words used: jargon and a long list of educational credentials do not speak to a team in the same way that a good, practical example will. Leading by example can also help to create an environment of mutual respect. Such leadership can become indelible within the team, without anyone giving it a conscious effort. This is a vital building block for good communication and team cohesion. Leaders who have a good relationship with both their subordinates and superiors are in a far stronger position than leaders who try to lead by being overbearing, tyrannical or arrogant. A line of communication that permeates through the workplace ranks needs to be open and clear; by showing mutual respect exists at work, everyone can feel valued and involved and, so, genuinely care about their work as well as those around them.
Tips for Leading by Example
Listen
Leaders who lead by example are great communicators but even better listeners. They are open to new ideas and listen to their colleagues and those around them. They will often have an open-door policy and strive to resolve any problems that their employees are having quickly, with empathy and understanding.
Get Involved
The best leaders are often those who have climbed the ranks during their career with hard work and have overcome many setbacks. This gives them an understanding of the challenges, frustrations and problems that exist within subordinate roles. It puts them in a unique position to improve the working lives of those around them. Leading by example might mean having to get back to basics and perform physical tasks to fill in for their colleagues during times of being short-staffed. This shows a great example to staff and will help them relate to you and respect you. Delegating, while an important part of being a good manager, can be seen or used as an avoidance tactic. Clients often value seeing a boss who leads by example and gets involved with the day-to-day running of a business, rather than one who spends their days in the back office and constantly delegates tasks to others. Those who lead by example value equality and are unafraid to get involved, even with menial labour. They do not consider some tasks to be ‘beneath them’.
Inspire
Traditionally, leaders are thought of as charismatic individuals able to spark creativity and action, whether that is persuading investors to part with large amounts of cash, developers to innovate systems and tools or front-line workers to increase their productivity and maximise profits. Great leaders will be able to inspire others to be more creative, work harder, spend smarter and effect change. Bosses who lead by example do this not by simply delivering charismatic and effective speeches and presentations, but by showing that there is real meaning behind their words. Their behaviour in, and even outside of, the workplace needs to reflect the way they wish others to behave.
Remain Consistent
One of the quickest ways to undermine confidence in your leadership is through inconsistency. This might also lead to significant confusion within the team itself about what they should be doing and how they should be doing it. In business, sometimes things change quickly, necessitating a new approach, but it is important to keep your team up to date about any changes and explain why they are happening. Saying one thing and then doing another will significantly reduce the confidence that workers have in you as a leader; this may lead to mistrust and loss of respect. Leading by example means being consistent and rational, which helps to keep everyone informed and organised. Inconsistency in leadership causes confusion and chaos.
Tactics to Avoid
Believing You Are Beyond Reproach
As a leader, you are in a position of responsibility. You have most likely gotten there by demonstrating your skills and experience and showing your superiors that you are worthy of a leadership role. This does not mean that you know everything. It is important to be open to new ideas and constructive criticism and to remember that you are still able to learn. Being a leader does not mean that you are always right.
Disrespecting the Chain of Command
Although it can be tempting in a leadership role to fully embrace decision-making and take full responsibility for everything, this can cause confusion within the team about who they are reporting to. A transparent management structure helps workers on all levels to understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff need to know who they should approach with questions or concerns. As a leader, showing that you respect your superiors should foster a culture of respect amongst your subordinates. The temptation to over scrutinise or micromanage affairs can lead to frustration, a loss of morale and reduced output. Great leaders lay solid foundations and let their staff know that they are always there to support them.
How to Lead by Example in the Workplace
Be confident, not arrogant – Confidence is key, but arrogance will make people disengage from you quickly. A leader who cannot engage with others on an equal footing will never be successful. It is important for anyone who is trying to lead by example to be self-aware and willing to learn. Take responsibility when things go wrong, rather than diverting attention to others – Accountability is vital in any leader. Failure is inevitable and cannot be avoided altogether, so how you deal with it and learn from it makes all the difference. Be the right leader for the job – Workers want to see a leader who is experienced and educated in their role, rather than placed there through nepotism or chance. Leading by example will be much easier if you are engaged, passionate and have a genuine interest in your role and team. Believe in yourself and your team – As a leader, show confidence in yourself and your team, and try to spread positivity. Foster a culture where everyone acknowledges that they are constantly learning and consistently striving for better. This will mean everyone can celebrate their successes or others’ and can learn from their mistakes.
Which Skills and Qualities Do You Need to Lead by Example?
Some people seem to be natural born leaders; others develop the necessary skills and expertise during their education and career. For some people, it may be that once they discover their niche and true passion, their desire to lead and inspire others is finally ignited. Some qualities considered important in those who will successfully lead by example are:
Confidence Experience Responsibility and accountability Clear communicator Creative and able to inspire others Engaged and passionate Honest Good conflict resolution skills
To successfully lead by example, you will need strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with people on different levels. This requires being able to change the way that you communicate and present information without coming across as patronising, uninterested or uninformed. It also means having empathy and understanding for others. Public speaking and presentation skills can be learned, but being a good listener and a genuine, caring boss are often innate qualities that are tricky to teach. As a leader, acknowledging that you are still on your own learning journey can be very inspirational to others. It shows them that, despite being in a position of power and authority, you still have the desire to grow and improve yourself, rather than having an ‘I’ve reached the top, I’m done’ approach that can cause a business to stagnate. Leading by example is a technique that often complements the idea of ‘continuous learning’ within the workplace. It is based on the idea that a task is never completely done and can always be done better if everyone commits to continuously learning and improving themselves. A successful leader understands that their actions and behaviour affect those who look up to them. Positive actions will have a positive influence on others. Leading by example acknowledges that simply telling others what to do is not enough. They need to see, through your actions, that you believe in what you are saying and that it is true. You may also find it difficult to command respect from others. Failing to lead by example undermines your authority and may make you seem less credible as a boss. It can also lead to confusion and disorganisation within the team. Do not create an ‘us vs. them’ divide between workers and management – command respect, but show respect in return. To lead well by example requires a lot of self-awareness, the ability to think critically and a willingness to adapt and improve when necessary. You must show that you have researched the business prior to arriving for your interview; this shows that you have a genuine interest in the role and may put you ahead of other candidates. To answer a interview question on leading by example, consider a core value of the business, how you would demonstrate this through leadership and what effect you would want it to have on others. You can reinforce core values in your team through your actions and behaviours, not only leading to improvements in output and team cohesion, but in your self-awareness too. This can help you in your own learning journey as a leader.
