How Do You Lead by Example in the

Workplace?
Leading by example in the workplace means showing behaviour, consistently, that you
wish for others to show as well.

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.

How Do You Lead by Example in the Workplace?

Micromanaging
When you have given clear instructions and know that your team has the tools and skills
required for the task in hand, the best way to lead them may be to take a step back.

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.

Final Thoughts

Leading by example means setting the standard that you want others to follow. It requires
commitment and consistency from those in positions of power.

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.