We’ve all read the leadership books that tell us we need to lead by example.
As my 11 year old would say “obv Mum” (aka “obviously” to those without pre-teens or teenagers in the house).
But why is it so rare that leaders do this in practice?
Just because it sounds simple, doesn’t mean it’s easy in practice.
If you expect your team to acknowledge customers within 30 seconds of crossing the lease line, you better be ready to do the same when you’re on site.
If you expect your team to return emails to customers within one business day – then damn, you better have the systems and support to ensure you reply to your emails within one working day.
If you expect your team to ensure your store/club/venue is kept clean, tidy, and well stocked, then your place of work needs to be a reflection of that same standard.
Knowing that we should lead by example is not the same as doing it in practice.
Leading by example once, is not the same as leading by example every time.
My daughter might be right, leading by example is certainly an “obv” concept but that doesn’t mean its common practice.
As the best leader I ever worked for once told me…
“Always operate under the assumption that someone is watching because most the time, someone is, and you don’t even know it.”
Nic McClanachan
September 2024
PS The image I’ve used at the top of this email is from one of the most dedicated organisations to leadership I’ve ever worked with – Harris Farm Markets.
