Leading By Example

Leading by example is a leadership attitude in which a person exhibits the behavior they want to reflect and influence others and team members. It is not a theoretical but practical approach in which the person in charge needs to inform or guide other members but demonstrate it.

The style is mainly acquired by team leaders and managers responsible for a group of people who set out to behave and carry out the tasks and responsibilities so that others learn from it. The meaning of leading by example not only involves giving an example but also becoming an example. It also helps individuals with productivity, self-growth, and development.

Leading by example is a leadership style that means modeling behavior and acting personally toward a goal. It refers to becoming a guiding point and mentor to learn from; the method transforms the theoretical methods into a practical approach so that others can observe you and follow the same. When employees lead by example, they express their sincerity, willingness, and ability to do tasks themselves. It does not mean they are unwilling to get help from others, but they are showcasing their intent and promising attitude towards work.

The leading by example definition states that it is essential to exhibit such leadership skills because, even if others do not follow, adopting the style helps in personal growth, increases productivity, and optimizes work and daily tasks. Suppose every employee depends on someone for guidance. In that case, they restrict themselves from taking a step forward, getting involved in the natural process, and only performing the tasks they are asked to, which is the case of most minor learning and only doing minimal work.

Many leading-by-example quotes are explicitly written for management, work, and daily life to help people understand the importance of becoming a leader in different aspects of life. Though it is substantial, there are limitations to its applications. It sets a culture in the workspace and must be done correctly, or the management can face repercussions.

It is not an individual leadership style but includes various aspects of team building and professionalism. The methods and strategies for this leadership management are:

• The most critical aspect is getting things done personally; it is a sign of effective leadership that others respect in a team and positively impacts team members and colleagues.
• The employees must respect the chain of command. Every organization has a structure, and if that is followed, it eventually leads to clarity and hierarchical disorder in following orders.
• Managers and team leaders trying to adopt this style must value each member's viewpoint and listen to their team; if they are only busy giving orders and enforcing power, they can never prosper in leadership.
• Another important method or strategy is solving problems and resolving conflicts efficiently so that the flow of work is maintained and disagreements are prevented.
• In corporate structures, each team, department, and individual knows their work and must work ardently, respecting the targets and delivering on time; it is an essential leadership skill and a part of professionalism.
• True leadership is observed in giving credit and appreciating others' contributions to the work.

Let us use a few examples to understand the topic.

Example #1

Suppose Tulip joins a new company and is part of the marketing team; whenever work comes up, she shares it with her team members, takes control of the operations, and is always ready to be involved in actual work rather than just following orders. Tulip believes in learning different aspects of her job and respects the hierarchy in the office.

All her team members learn the same from her and exhibit an increased productivity and learning mindset. Whenever there is a problem, Tulip likes to contribute and listen to each team member, irrespective of their position. In this example, Tulip leads by example and leaves a positive impression on her team members. It can be challenging in a natural work environment, but leadership skills are always welcomed.

Example #2

According to an Economic Times article, leading by example, among others, is a critical skill that new-age CFOs must possess in the modern business world. The article includes many multinational companies like Apple, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Mastercard, AirBnB, etc. A new-age CFO must understand data analytics and emerging technologies like blockchain and Artificial Intelligence.

They must possess rapid-thinking behavior and adapt to industry changes. Only by doing so can they lead by example, encouraging others to boost their productivity and have a learning mindset. CFOs must be able to collect and analyze large amounts of data and get involved in multiple aspects of technology.

The importance of this concept is as follows:

• It allows people to take matters into their own hands.
• When managers or employees lead, they showcase sincerity and professionalism toward their work.
• Improves teamwork and internal relationships.
• It helps prioritize the team and act as a leader in demanding situations.
• It lets people deal with problems constructively.
• Employees who adopt the leading-by-example style turn a theoretical idea into a practical approach.
• By adopting the style, people can positively influence other employees and coworkers by setting a good example.