“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” – Albert Schweitzer
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way” – John Maxwell
The mark of a great leader is someone who “walks the talk.” This is critical in a world where “do as I say and not as I do” still persists.
At the cornerstone of an exemplary leader is the practice of ethical leadership. By ethical leadership, it means the concepts of honesty, integrity, transparency, fairness, respect, diversity and inclusion are inherent in your identity.
Remember Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words that have been paraphrased over time in multiple ways: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”
Our actions, verbal and non-verbal are indeed a testament of the type of person you are so here are a few things that you should look out for in your behaviors as you develop the leader in you:
Report unethical behavior
Do the right thing even when nobody’s watching
Own up to your mistakes
Be reliable and dependable
Treat everyone fairly
Value everyone. At the end of the day we are all human beings.
Follow the rules
Don’t be a DAISNAID (Do As I Say Not As I Do)
paraphrased from source: https://www.betterup.com/blog/leading-by-example