Leading by example in the workplace

An example of great success due to leading by example is provided by General Curtis Lemay.

Who was Curtis Lemay?

He was an American aviator, who eventually became Chief of Staff of the entire US air force in the early 1960s. During World War II, he was posted to Europe in command of a bomber group. He was very dissatisfied with the results that his bombers were achieving and believed they could do much better.  How did he rectify this?

He devised a new strategy that he was convinced was better.  To prove this, he flew in a lead bomber, in extreme danger, to show that it did.  It was a very successful method and completely transformed the methods of bombing that the Americans used.

Leadership in a crisis

Despite Covid-19, we currently live in more peaceful times than Lemay.  But during a crisis you don’t have to look far to identify those who understand the importance of leading by example.

Santander chairperson Ana Botin took a 50% pay cut when the Covid-19 crisis arose.  The wages she sacrificed will be used to boost a fund for medical equipment designed for the Covid-19 crisis.  Ms. Botin set a good example and showed sensible leadership at a time when so many in her company and in Spain, where it is based, are experiencing great difficulty.

Similarly, the United Airlines CEO and the President of that airline both forsook their salaries during June 2020 and they also took a pay cut because of the massive reduction in air travel as a result of Covid-19.  Both have been praised for their leadership by example in this trying time.

Poor leadership examples

Sadly, not all examples of leadership during crisis illustrate leaders doing the right thing.  Here is one, where leadership by example was absent and selfishness obvious.

In New Zealand, a country, whose record in the Covid-19 crisis management has been outstanding, the then Minister of Health, David Clark, twice broke the lock-down rules in that country.  Instead of following his own government rules, he went out driving and bike riding.   One such occurrence happened the same day he advised the rest of the country to “stay home and be safe”.  Because of this manifest failure, he was massively demoted.  Other examples from other countries can easily be found.

Even small acts matter 

But you don’t need a crisis to see the importance good managers put in leading by example.  At a local supermarket, the cashiers are friendly, knowledgeable, and very effective.  The store manager frequently takes to the till herself, particularly if the supermarket is busy.  Her willingness to shoulder the burden of those she leads plays no small part in the success of this supermarket.  Staff attrition rates are low and you can tell the people their love their jobs and customers likewise feel welcomed.

Equally powerful are those that do not practice what they preach.  At one of the schools where I taught, the principal wanted the school to do well in a public exam so he instituted a system of tutorials, which took place before the school day began.  The staff, who were very dedicated, had to get up early to put this into practice and as a consequence, the results of the school greatly improved in the exam.

The only problem was that the principal was not one of the teachers of these tutorials, despite having a Master’s degree on the subject.  So he failed to lead by example.  There may have been perfectly valid reasons for this which weren’t communicated.  So to those at the coal face, his non-appearance was a source of bitter disappointment to staff.

In this example, the principal should have led by example. But why? Because when good people feel like their commitment to their job is being taken for granted, they leave or quickly lose motivation.  Trust in the leader is also undermined.  The alternative to setting a good example is to lead by force or fear, neither of which are sustainable.

Being a role model

Here are some of the attributes that most managers want an employee to have:
1. Be passionate about their work
2. Keep an open mind
3. Their job title should not be an impediment or shield to any task
4. They should be honest in all they do
5. They should have a reputation for integrity
6. They must always strive to improve the systems of their workplace
7. They must practice what they preach (lead by example!)
8. They must communicate clearly
9. They should be a great team player
10. They should have empathy- the ability to understand what others are feeling
11. They should have courage

If a leader wants their team to have these qualities, then they themselves first need to have them and in abundance.  If not, then not only will the manager lose all credibility, but staff will quickly become disenfranchised.  After all, would you rather work for someone who inspires you, or someone you learn to mistrust or even despise? 

The most powerful tool you have as leader is the example you set for others. 

So, what behaviours do you model?

Recommended reading:
1. Baldoni, J. (2008). Lead by example: 50 ways great leaders inspire results. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.
2. Secretan, L. (2004). Inspire! What great leaders do. John Wiley & Sons.
3. McCastler, G. (2016). Lead by example. Page Publishing.
4. Sinek, S. (2009). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Penguin.
5. McGalliard, A. (2019). Care to lead: How to master and implement four keys to leadership: Communication, accountability, relationships and example of Excel. Archangel Ink.