In times of crisis, people look to leaders for guidance, support and reassurance. One of the most powerful ways to influence others and their behaviour is to lead by example. Over the years I have seen some great managers who understand the importance of leading by example.
Now more than ever, good leadership is crucial. If you are struggling to lead your team with your own actions, there are steps you can take to improve your skills and capacity to motivate. Whether you are an experienced manager or aspiring to become one, mastering a few key behaviours can inspire others to follow your lead.
If you want to influence people in a positive way, consider the following:
- Know yourself: The first person you have to lead is – YOURSELF. In order to lead others, you need to start by leading yourself. And you have to know who you are. What are your beliefs, values, biases, strengths and weaknesses? How do you cope with your own fears, uncertainties and worries? Are you as self-aware as you think you are? Without self-awareness, you can’t lead others effectively. Leadership starts with leading yourself!
- Set the right example: If you lecture your staff about the importance of goal setting, motivation, work-life balance or self-care, make sure you are doing it yourself. Try to lead by example in all situations. Your employees are watching every move you make. Like it or not, you are a role model for your team. So, be the manager who “walks the talk”. If you don’t, how can anyone trust a manager who talks about one thing, but does another?
- Be mindful of your communication style: Give thought to how and what you communicate to others. Watch what you say… or don’t say. Pay attention to your non-verbal communication including body language, eye contact and posture. Are you congruent? Your words need to match your actions and vice versa. Cultivate and maintain personal connections with your staff. Take time to have non-work related conversations with your team members regularly. Smiling is a great way to positively influence others too. Don’t hide behind your “I’m a manager” mask.
- Stay calm, composed and professional: When dealing with people who annoy, anger or frustrate you, it’s easy to fight or argue back. Don’t! This will only trigger more aggression. You need to slow down, stay calm and aim for an assertive communication style instead. Assertive communicators express their own needs, while also considering the needs of others. They seek for a win-win situation.
- Develop a “can-do” attitude: Your attitude is contagious – for better or worse. Negative attitudes can lead to serious problems in the workplace. Effective managers maintain a “can-do” attitude, even in times of stress and anxiety. They know that a positive approach fuels more positive results. They know the power of optimism. No, “can-do” attitude does not stand for blind optimism, overconfidence or saying yes to everything. It's about being open, upbeat and realistic. Where others give up, managers with a “can-do” attitude try harder.
- Model healthy work habits and self-care: As a manager, you have a great opportunity to model good self-care practices. Go for a brief walk around the block, walk up and down the stairs, take regular breaks, work sensible hours and avoid taking calls or replying to emails outside of work hours. If you want to cultivate resilience and mental fitness in your teams, you have to start with yourself.
- Continue to learn: You should never stop learning. In the ever-changing world, it has never been more important to expand your knowledge and keep up-to-date with new developments. Try to learn something new every day. Read magazines, newspapers, books and online. Listen to podcasts. Mix with other teams, observe what’s happening around you. Always have a curious mind, experiment and try out new things.
By the way, it isn’t just leaders and managers who lead by example.
Each of us can be a great leader, regardless of our role or title – mother, father, teacher, shop assistant, cleaner, athlete, bus driver… just to name a few. Leading by example applies to everyone.
So, are YOU leading by example?
“Make it your business to draw out the best in others by being an exemplar yourself.” Epictetus