Leading By Example - A Mindset

At the age of only 6 to 8 months, babies start mimicking the sounds and actions of their parents. At a later stage, sounds become words, and actions become accompanied by behavior - following the parents.

Following is part of human nature. From a young age, we look up to those who lead by their actions—our first guides in navigating life.

At home these are our parents, at school our teachers, at university our professors and doctors, and at work our leaders.

What does “leading by example” mean?

“Leading by example” means that as a leader you demonstrate the behaviors, values, and standards you expect from your team through your own actions.?

Rather than simply setting goals or giving directives, you embody the commitment, integrity, and work ethic you expect from others. Your actions reinforce your words, build trust, and inspire others to mirror those behaviors.?

Leaders who lead by example create a culture of accountability and motivate their teams to work towards shared goals. Ultimately, it reinforces that actions speak louder than words, showing the way rather than just telling it.

When and how to “lead by example”?

The simple answer is: always!

Being a role model should feel natural—less about ‘when and how’ and more about consistently embodying the values you believe in. It shouldn’t be like “Oh, I will do this now that way so that the team sees it and start to do the same!”

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

This Golden Rule is maybe the best summary. Treat others the same way you’d want to be treated. This should be a habit throughout your entire life.

Be the leader you wished you had when you were starting out.

Every one of us has the ideal role model in mind. Embody this at all times.?

Pro Tip:

“In the last month, I’ve not been good at managing my time properly. Because of this, a few of my tasks have been delayed. In the next month, I want to work on that by prioritizing these tasks, saying ‘no’ or trading things off, and delegating tasks.”

Imagine you’re in a one-on-one meeting with your leader and he or she is sharing this with you. How likely is it that you’d open up to him or her now?

It’s not a one-way-road

Even if you’re not (yet) a leader by title, consider the value of leading by example in every role. Here’s why:

• The people around you (at work and outside of work) will respect, look up to you, and most importantly trust you more.
• Personally, I have learned so much from my team while leading them. I’ve learned technical skills (because I jumped in supporting the team whenever needed and they showed me tricks to be better). I’ve learned how to work with different personality types, who all added certain soft skills to me.

Conclusion

Leading by example isn’t just for those with “leader” in their title; it’s a mindset. It’s about holding yourself to the same standards you expect of others and fostering a culture of trust, mutual respect, and growth. When we lead by our actions, we encourage those around us to step up, share ideas, and take initiative.

A leader’s true impact is often felt in the smallest actions, inspiring others to do and be their best. Embody the kind of leader you’d want to follow—and watch the positive ripple effect it has on those around you.

Call to action

Reflect on these questions to see how leading by example has impacted you:

• How has your leader’s behavior influenced you?
• Did they support you in difficult situations or simply direct from above? How did that make you feel?
• Do you feel motivated by the example they set, or do you wish they engaged more actively with you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Share them in the comments, and let’s explore how leading by example can create stronger, more connected teams.