“Lead by Example” This is the old adage that frequents leadership discussions, forums, and lectures the world over. I have heard it throughout my entire career, and in fact, it was heralded as THE thing a leader does back in my military days. But like most of the leadership platitudes out there, “lead by example” has become just that. It is another bastardized phrase that leaders at all levels do not truly understand. Maybe I can unpack what it means to me here. I am careful in saying it is meaningless now, I don’t think that is the case, but I do believe it means less.
How We Interpret It Now
The way that we use it today leads one to believe that if you provide a good example to follow then your subordinates will emulate your good behavior and your good leadership. The inverse would also be true in that when the leader exhibits bad behavior that their subordinates will exhibit the same bad behavior. It seems reasonable enough, right? Good leaders beget good performance, bad leaders beget bad performance. If this were true then organizations with outstanding leaders would be outstanding organizations right?
So, why do we have organizations with substandard performance despite the presence of the good example provided by the leader? Why are employee satisfaction scores so low despite the presence of a fantastic example? These super successful people should be able to just show up and inspire a team with their successful example, right?
The Reality
It is because it is simply not enough to provide a good example (e.g. follow the policies, be nice, etc.) for your folks to follow. It does not guarantee their success, nor does is miraculously compel them to embody your values and work ethic to reach the highest levels of performance. Does it make it easier to compel people to do the right things because they see you doing them? Yes, 100%, and that is where the adage of “lead by example” becomes a fallacy. It became about being a model for compliance with the rules, and soon it was less and less about people being at their best.
A leader cannot expect elite performance if you do not create the environment and conditions for elite performance to flourish. If you want that level of performance and growth for your team, you have to replicate for them the environment that allowed you to flourish and become successful. You have to create a garden that allows for the people to grow to their fullest potential.
What Can You Do?
Get the environment right and the behavior follows, get that environment wrong and you will not get the performance you desire (some Simon Sinek there). The organizational culture has to support and allow for the development and cultivation of elite performance. This goes way, way beyond a leader’s personal success story that they use to “lead by example.”
Outstanding performance has to be inspired. An inspired performance is the culmination of practice and disciplined training and incredible focus. Leaders inspire that kind of performance with their example, but not in a monkey see monkey do fashion.
