How to Lead by Example in the Workplace
How to lead by example in the workplace by Raffi Varoujian
Created on: September 21, 2010
There are plenty of people at work who talk a good game, but fail to back up their words with actions. Following through on your responsibilities and commitments is key to being a success in the workplace. However, “doing your job” is a given – it is the bare minimum that is expected of you by your employer and your colleagues. It goes without saying that you should act professionally, dress appropriately, be courteous, and responsive. However, to lead, you should be setting the standard, rather than following it. It is very easy to do what everyone else is doing – there is safety in numbers, and sticking your head above the parapet is usually a risky proposition. So, how do you lead by example?
Be honest
Honesty and integrity are the twin foundation on which we build trust. The word “trust” is often bandied about in the corporate environment, but as in any area of life, it is difficult to earn and very east to lose. Be honest in your communications with colleagues and superiors, own up to any mistakes you have made, take responsibility for your actions and be quick to share the credit and acknowledge the contributions of colleagues when appropriate. The default setting in a corporate environment, or any workplace for that matter is that people are very quick to accept credit and even quicker to distribute blame. By taking the harder road of being honest, sometimes at the expense of your pride, you lead by example.
Be courageous
They say the top of the pile is a lonely place to be. People don’t lead from the back, they lead from the front. That means you will be saying things and doing things differently from others and working outside of your comfort zone. That takes courage. Courage is different from fearlessness. Acting without fear means taking risks without caring about the consequences. Courage means taking risks even though you are fully aware of, and
Created on: September 21, 2010
There are plenty of people at work who talk a good game, but fail to back up their words with actions. Following through on your responsibilities and commitments is key to being a success in the workplace. However, “doing your job” is a given – it is the bare minimum that is expected of you by your employer and your colleagues. It goes without saying that you should act professionally, dress appropriately, be courteous, and responsive. However, to lead, you should be setting the standard, rather than following it. It is very easy to do what everyone else is doing – there is safety in numbers, and sticking your head above the parapet is usually a risky proposition. So, how do you lead by example?
Be honest
Honesty and integrity are the twin foundation on which we build trust. The word “trust” is often bandied about in the corporate environment, but as in any area of life, it is difficult to earn and very east to lose. Be honest in your communications with colleagues and superiors, own up to any mistakes you have made, take responsibility for your actions and be quick to share the credit and acknowledge the contributions of colleagues when appropriate. The default setting in a corporate environment, or any workplace for that matter is that people are very quick to accept credit and even quicker to distribute blame. By taking the harder road of being honest, sometimes at the expense of your pride, you lead by example.
Be courageous
They say the top of the pile is a lonely place to be. People don’t lead from the back, they lead from the front. That means you will be saying things and doing things differently from others and working outside of your comfort zone. That takes courage. Courage is different from fearlessness. Acting without fear means taking risks without caring about the consequences. Courage means taking risks even though you are fully aware of, and