Leading by Example: Empowering Organizations and Teams Through Action

My writing has become quite sporadic dear readers and I hope that you can forgive this bump in the road.? My work has taken me to far places and quite honestly it has been tough keeping up.? I hope that life will be a little smoother moving forward so I hope that you continue to look to the Corner Office for insightful nuggets for the HR Leadership community.

That being said, while life has been rolling by, three weeks ago, I learned that my first supervisor in my professional life died.? She was just four years older than me so needless to say I was shocked.? I did not keep in contact after I left that job so I can’t say that we were close, but I remember her well because of her commitment and drive.? She was always focused and had an unwavering drive to be the best she could be.? I also remember her as being kind and encouraging.??? It was under her leadership that I learned about having a strong work ethic, aside and apart from what I learned of course from my grandmother.? It was from her that I learned as well how much a good leader can empower others.?

My first job was more than thirty years ago but you never really forget to person who, even in retrospect, you realise was the catalyst for a lifetime of professional success.? She found me quite by chance in a casual meeting where our only commonality was that we shared an alma mater.? She introduced me to her boss and the rest is history.?

Therefore, in this week’s Corner Office – the first in more than a month is going to be talking about the power of leading by example. ??You see, I am sure that many of us have repeatedly said, and indeed we understand, the importance of setting the tone from the top.? ??We say it but many of us don’t live it and moreover we don’t encourage those above us to visibly live the values which we say that our organisations value.

In fact, leading by example is perhaps one of the most powerful and effective leadership strategies.? When team members see that their leaders are willing to put in the hard work and commitment required to get outstanding results and become high performing teams, they are more inspired.? This level of accountability not only helps to build trust and respect but also become the template for behaviour which others want to emulate.? After all, who wants to follow a leader who is asking an employee to do something which the leader themselves would not do?

Leading by example not only has benefits for the leader and the team but for the entire organization in a number of different ways.? Here are my top five:

• Promotes Accountability: A leader who models desired behaviors encourages a culture of accountability. Team members understand what is expected of them, goals and objectives are clear and way of doing business are clear and consistently applied, fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership.
• Facilitates learning and development: Walking the talk assists in demonstrating the right way to handle tasks and challenges and provides a live example for team members to learn from. ?Leaders therefore will be acting as a live and in-person training tool, enhancing the skills and capabilities of the team.
• Improves communication: Leaders who model open and transparent communication set the tone for the entire organization. This openness encourages team members to express their ideas and concerns freely, leading to a more dynamic and innovative environment.
• Encourages ethical behavior: Leading by example, especially in terms of ethics and integrity, sets a moral benchmark for the team. It ensures that ethical practices are not just preached but practiced, thereby reducing instances of misconduct.
• Enhances adaptability and resilience: Leaders who face challenges head-on and adapt to changes gracefully inspire their teams to do the same. This builds a resilient workforce that can navigate through uncertainties effectively.

The overarching benefit of course is that a leader who walks the talk contributes to and fosters a positive work environment since it emphasizes the importance of respect, empathy, and support within the team, creating a more enjoyable and productive workplace.

Although all leaders in an organization should adopt the “lead by example” attitude, HR leaders can do a lot to create this culture so that any leader who joins the organization, understands intrinsically what is required.?? Through the development and promotion of targeted programs and initiatives, HR leaders can in fact significantly enhance leadership practices that drive organizational success. Here are ten distinct HR leader-led initiatives to build a lead-by-example culture:

1. Credibility and trust-building programs: HR leaders can develop workshops and training sessions that emphasize the importance of consistency between words and actions. These programs can include role-playing scenarios and real-life case studies to illustrate how leaders can build trust and credibility within their teams.
2. Accountability enhancement initiatives: ?Competency models, conflict mediation frameworks and mandatory annual ethics trainings are examples of frameworks where leaders are trained and learn to set clear expectations and hold themselves accountable. This can be supported by performance management systems that track and reward accountability, encouraging a culture where responsibility is shared and valued.
3. Inspiration and motivation campaigns: HR leaders can create recognition programs that highlight leaders who demonstrate exceptional dedication and passion. By showcasing these role models, the organization can inspire others to emulate their commitment and drive, fostering a motivated workforce.
4. Team building activities: HR leaders can facilitate team-building events and collaborative projects where leaders actively participate alongside their teams. ?These workshops on effective teamwork and interpersonal skills, reinforce the importance of unity and collaborative effort.
5. Practical learning opportunities: HR-led mentoring and coaching programs where experienced leaders demonstrate best practices and problem-solving techniques creates opportunities to put learning into practice. These programs can include shadowing opportunities, allowing employees to learn directly from their leaders’ actions in real-world situations.
6. Effective communication training: ?HR leaders can implement training sessions that focus on open, honest, and transparent communication. This can be supplemented with tools and platforms that encourage feedback and dialogue, helping leaders model and promote a culture of open communication within their teams.
7. Ethical leadership programs: ?Programs which focus on ethics and integrity in leadership can be co-facilitated by Ethics Officers and HR leaders.? These programs can include workshops, seminars, and e-learning modules that emphasize the importance of ethical behavior and provide guidelines for making ethical decisions.
8. Morale and job satisfaction initiatives: HR leaders can create programs that recognize and reward leaders who actively engage with their teams and demonstrate respect and appreciation. Surveys and feedback mechanisms can be used to monitor and improve employee morale and satisfaction continuously.
9. Adaptability and resilience training: HR leaders hold a unique responsibility to prepare leaders to handle change and adversity effectively. Courses on change management, stress resilience, and adaptive leadership ensure that leaders can guide their teams through challenges with confidence and flexibility.
10. Positive work environment programs: Promote initiatives that foster a respectful, empathetic, and supportive workplace culture. ?Diversity, equity and inclusion training, mental health awareness sessions, and employee assistance programs create an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated.

The culminative effect of these efforts is meant to align with individual team’s actions related to organizational values, but moreover they will enhance overall team dynamics, and drive sustainable success and growth in the organization.

As leaders, we must always remember that effective leadership is not about exerting control but about inspiring and enabling others to reach their full potential. When you lead with authenticity, integrity, and a genuine commitment to your team's growth, you create a ripple effect that cascades throughout the organization. Your actions become a guiding force, motivating those around you and in your teams to embrace a shared vision and collectively strive for excellence.

Remember, true leadership is not a position or title; it is a mindset and a way of being. By consistently living your values and empowering your team through your actions, you cultivate an environment of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement. This, in turn, fosters a culture of accountability, where everyone takes ownership and contributes to the organization's success. Ultimately, the most impactful leaders are those who inspire others to become all that they can be.