In the past this blog has addressed the importance of modeling the way. As a leader/manager, you have the tremendous responsibility to show people how you want them to work and behave – so much so, that it’s worth bringing up again. The old do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do may work some of the time with some people, but it’s not very effective for long-term success. Consider how you feel when someone expects one thing from you, and does something else. When you behave in this way, you give your employees reason to doubt your leadership abilities, and maybe even resent you.
Take time this week to consider how you measure up. Dedicate a couple of minutes at the end of each day to review what behavior you have modeled (and therefore inspired) for that day. Is yours the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do approach? How effective has that proven thus far? Although it may seem like the easier way to go, it’s not a leader’s way. All of the day’s responsibilities can be tiring enough to tempt taking an easier way out, but your desire for long terms success should take it off your list of options. Leaders are not dictators or tyrants. They do not bring fear and resentment, but rather inspire all of those positive things that bring victory and success for the team and/or company. So if you want your employees to know that you expect hard work, or positive attitude, or team players, tell them, but also show them exactly that by modeling those things with your own behavior. It’s up to you as the leader/manager to model the desired behavior, and therefore model the way.
