The second new law of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is The Law of the Picture. This law simply states that people do what people see. Everyone is a leader whether you think you are or not. People are always watching what you do. It might be your children, friends or maybe the homeless people at the shelter where you volunteer to serve. If you are a leader, your team is always watching, that’s just a part of leadership. Rudy Giuliani the former mayor of New York City wrote in his book Leadership that he was very aware that what he does sets the stage for those who follow him. “You cannot ask those who work for you to do something you’re unwilling to do yourself.” He said, “It is up to you to set the standard of behavior.”
You have probably heard it said by your parents or someone, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Maybe you’ve even been the one saying that. That just doesn’t work anymore, at least, not in the long run. We have to make a decision and be willing to practice what we preach. Don’t teach what you haven’t lived yourself. Norman Vincent Peale once said, “Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice, but set a bad example. The reverse is also true: Nothing is more convincing than people who give good advice and set a good example. Our actions must be congruent with what we say.
We need to always be working on improving ourselves. How can we expect to help others improve if we aren’t improving ourselves. Leaders are responsible for their team. They monitor their performance and progress and also provide direction as well as hold them accountable. As a leader, the first person I need to lead is me. I need to be the first one to change. My standards of excellence should always be higher for myself than for my team. To be a credible leader, I must always be willing to work first, hardest and longest, particularly on changing myself and self mastery.
There was a survey conducted asking U.S. Workers to select the one trait that was most important in a leader. The number one answer: Leading by Example. More than anything people want to follow leaders who beliefs and actions coincide. They want good role models who lead from the front.
Set a great example and have a magnificent day.
