Leading by Example: Cultivating Excellence in Leadership and Team Dynamics

Leading by example means demonstrating the attitudes, values, ethics, and work standards that you would like your team to practice. For the leader, it's a challenging journey of self-control, reflection, and consistency, while for the followers, it's a long journey of inspiration and learning.

Leading by example offers the following benefits:

1. Boosting Respect and Trust: People respect and trust those who fulfill their commitments, meet their promises, and are consistent with both their values and actions.
2. Offering On-the-Spot Training and Learning Opportunities: Working shoulder to shoulder with the leader uncovers numerous learning opportunities, such as coaching, mentoring, sharing of thoughts, and receiving timely feedback.
3. Listening to the Real Vibe of the Team: Being present in the workplace allows the leader to set both the tone and rhythm, and it helps in guiding the direction of the team.
4. Enhancing Individual and Group Bonds: People tend to bond better with those who support them in tough times. Working closely also offers opportunities for conflicts, which when well managed, enhance mutual understanding of perspectives, feelings, and communication styles, thereby strengthening relationships.
5. Efficient Communication: Being close to the team allows the leader's communication style, messages, relevance, timeliness, and even communication tools to be more customized and adapted to the group. Moreover, the presence of a thoughtful leader inspires respect and other positive values.
6. Increasing Engagement, Credibility, and Accountability: When the leader is accountable, others are inspired to follow suit. The leader's presence in the workplace encourages the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in their work, amplifying the positive response to the leader's communicated messages.

References:

• Social judgment theory and realistic conflict theory by Muzafer Sherif.