Leading By Example Works! How To Lead, Follow, and Inspire By Example

Many people browsing the title of this post will respond with a hearty, "DUH!" I already know that leading by example works! When most of us see a truth like leading by example we shake our head assuming we already know all about it then proceed to try to find something new and fresh.

Newsflash. New and fresh doesn't exist. Great foundational truths that help us in business and life have stood the test of time and continue to produce results for a reason. They work.

Leading by example is one of those foundational truths.

What A Little Girl In Church and Her Mother Taught Me About Leading By Example

Here's an absolutely awesome example I saw recently that got me thinking about this whole leading by example thing. I was at the early morning Sunday service at our church. I saw a beautiful little girl, probably about seven. She was dressed modestly yet very fashionable. Her hair was neat and she had one of those little girl smiles that can literally light an entire room or in this case sanctuary. Bottom line this little girl looked and was acting like a lady. She had been trained well not only in appearance standards but also in etiquette. She handled herself in way of worship norms better than most of the adults in the room. I was totally impressed.

Right before the service began I saw a woman approach this impressive young lady. I had no doubt in my mind, it had to be the girls mother. She also was dressed very fashionably but also conservative. She had all of the basic protocols of our particular faith down perfect. As they found their seat I thought, now that's leading by example.

Leading By Example Means Everyone Is Watching You

As in our example, parents learn quickly the difficulties of leading by example. They learn that if they do it well, their children in most cases will follow in the same direction. Done poorly and bad fruit is almost immediately visible.

Leading by example begins with understanding that you're always being watched. By your co-workers, team, class, friends, and family. Some may say, "I don't want to be under that kind of microscope." Sorry, that's life, you can't control it.

Put yourself in the shoes of those who are watching you on a daily basis. What do they see? What do your employees see about what time you get to work? Do they see you being the last one in or the first one there? What does your family see about your dedication to them? Do they see you totally engaged or do they see you with your nose in your cell phone every five minutes? What does your internet marketing or MLM team see about how you succeed online? Do they actually see you taking part in training calls, helping other, and hustling? Or do they see someone out for themselves, hoarding information, and motivated by greed?

Thinking about how others see you is tough but it's essential in learning how to master leading by example. Please notice, I didn't say, be concerned about what people think about you in terms of opinions. Peoples opinions of you mean very little and are influenced by all kinds of factors way outside of your control. I'm asking instead how do people see you in terms of what you are doing? Do they see you leading by example? What kind of tone are you setting?