When you talk about great leaders, you will hear the argument that they must be people who lead by example. They are the ones who show others what to do and how to act in certain situations.

As a team leader or a manager, the definition sounds simple because it is a fact that our actions can influence how people behave and react. When you have a top position, people will indeed follow your lead. But, in reality, the definition is much deeper than that, as leading by example must be enabling people to behave accordingly to achieve the goals you wish to achieve.

If you are wondering how you can lead by example and be a good role model and leader for your team, here are some great ways to do it:

Know What Behaviours Should Be Emulated

The first thing you want to do to lead by example is knowing the right behaviours to emulate for people to see. Some of the behaviours you should practise that will produce a good response include a good work ethic, flexibility and active participation in company events and projects.

Don’t Fear Failure And See It As An Opportunity To Achieve Success

A misconception for many people is that a leader shouldn’t fail in what they do. However, a great leader doesn’t see failure as something to avoid, but it should be seen as an opportunity to grow. As the leader, you will need to show that you are ready to face any failure and see the positive impacts it brings.

No Rule-breaking

As a leader by example, you need to show that you follow the rules you set and not just ask people to follow them. When you follow your directions, people will be motivated to follow and respect you no matter how minor it is.

Value Your Team

Every team member should be valued no matter what experience they have and how long they have been working on the team. As their leader, you need to motivate and communicate with them to show that you recognize them and their role in the group. They will feel inspired to work harder and feel valued when you make an effort to reach out to them.

Always Make Time To Review Your Activities

You should lead by example by keeping track of your progress through your activities and learning from them. Reviewing your actions, even the ones you will do next, will allow you to identify the best strategies to use for critical projects, what to improve on and what mistakes to learn from. Once you identify these points, it is important that you share them with your team, so they have a practical example to follow for their projects.

It can be hard to lead a team with diverse characteristics, behaviours, and work values. However, if you know what you want people to do for the company and act accordingly to achieve this, you will be able to lead others by example positively.

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