4 Steps to Lead by Example
John Quincy Adams
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
What makes a leader? It used to be that it was one person in charge. They dictated what they wanted to happen and it didn’t really matter what anyone else wanted or needed. They were the one in charge and they convinced other people to follow them.
Nowadays leadership has become more collaborative and people-oriented.
The authoritative way of leading has lessened, with flexibility, adaptability and creativity becoming important qualities to possess.
The true role of a leader is to inspire, coach and guide. To motivate teams through challenging times and to guide individuals through their job. It’s about fostering a collaborative culture and leading by example.
Before we jump too far into how we are all leaders, think of a few leaders who have been impactful to you.
For me, the first ones I think of are teachers. In school, teachers can have a profound impact on children, positive or negative.
The most successful school teachers are often confident communicators and storytellers who engage the hearts and minds of our kids.
Do you remember the teacher who made school interesting and fun? Did a teacher inspire you to choose a certain career path or hobby later on in life? Even the teachers who were more authoritative, you may have had a negative experience, but you still were impacted/led to perhaps act or think a different way.
Let’s turn it around now and imagine you are the teacher. You have the power to influence people who are all around you. When you leave the home, people you meet on your way to the coffee shop, people you work with, family or friends you interact with; these are all people you can lead in a positive way.
Leading does not mean making it obvious and forced. It is not proving a point to belittle someone into submission. The most impactful leading is simply having empathy with others and leading by example. More people will try something if others are doing it too.
Leading by example is a positive way of practicing what you preach. Naturally guide others through your behaviour, instead of your words. A good leader’s intention is to inspire others to copy their behaviour, to then have others stand on their own and furthermore inspire others along the way to do the same.
Leading is a natural butterfly effect when it is done with positive intentions and actions.
Leading by example is crucial to showing how to behave when things go well, but it is even more important to show what to do when things don’t go to plan. It’s all well and good being happy and positive when things go your way, but what happens if frustration or defeat occurs? We all experience ups and downs in life, so show others how you can get through both and still be okay.
You have an immense impact on people around you even if you don’t think so. You never know who is watching your reaction to a situation or emotion and creating a learned behaviour themselves. Leading is not just directly interacting with someone. Leading can be simply you living your life and others see you or hear about something you did and mimic.
4 Steps to Lead by Example:
1. Take stock in your life over the last year.
See the January through November articles regarding individual steps and focuses.
2. Take a look at yourself.
Assess any aspects that you did, as well as any that you didn’t connect with.
3. Lead by example.
Continually reassess yourself and your life, making tweaks and changes for the better as you go. You are a leader, who must re-evaluate consistently to grow and create a bigger impact.
4. Come January, start again.
Next year keep living a truthful, purposeful life.
Try to look forward and influence the world in a positive way with your leadership. Recall my previous articles this year with each topic and reexamine your life today. Are you still telling your story? Living your purpose? Being grateful and giving? Are you exploring and remembering that you and everyone around you are all human?
If you are living your truthful, purposeful life, being grateful and giving, you will be a positive leader to those around you. The butterfly effect will take hold.
