If you want to inspire others, build, lead or be part of a great team or family no matter what your position or role one of the key aspects in being successful is leading by example.
I’ve worked with several clients lately who are directors of their own businesses, also parents trying to lead their children the best they can who have inspired me to write this article.
I have seen how they expect someone in their team or son or daughter to do something yet they don’t do it themselves. They fail to lead by example. What then happens is that the staff member or child see this and then after a while simply think, well if you don’t do it why should I bother?
For example, if you’re a parent preaching to your children to get out there and out of their comfort zone but you aren’t and they see it, they will wonder why should they when you don’t. Or if you tell them they must apologise or admit when they’re wrong and you don’t guess what? Same thing again.
Remember a leader has followers so if you have followers they are going to follow what you do.
Such situations can also be disguised and therefore can easily goes unseen in leadership roles. For example in business or a corporate environment if someone isn’t doing something for you I bet there is an extremely high possibility you aren’t doing that same thing just in a different medium but has the same meaning.
E.g. if you complain that your team don’t uphold excellent customer service by either the way they present themselves stop and think about how you presenting yourself to your customers?
CASE STUDY:
Georgia is the owner of a hairdressing salon was frustrated with her staff for they failed to greet every customer as soon as they entered and often arrived at work late looking less than tidy with their own hair. This annoyed Georgia no end and no matter how many times she asked and told them her expectations of them they wouldn’t do it.
What Georgia didn’t realise was that even though her priority was high quality customer service and presentation of the salon her staff would watch her book and squeeze in so many appointments that she was constantly late for her clients. How good a customer service is that they thought? She also spoke nicely to the customers but harshly towards the staff right in front of the customer. So her staff thought if she can’t be bothered being on time for the clients why should we jump to see them when they arrive plus speak with them nicely when she can’t even speak to us nicely?
Once Georgia could see this she immediately stopped being late for the clients, even though she had to book less in her quality of service increased dramatically for Georgia also stopped disrespecting her staff in front of the customer and all her staff became happier, arrived on time, greeted each customer as soon as they arrived and took pride in their appearance. Why? Because this is what the leader did and they followed. This was the ‘done thing’ now in that salon and all followed suit.
If you are having problems with staff living up to your expectations in any area and think they could be doing better, being more efficient and providing better customer service first look within. How are you performing in these areas?
Top Tips for Leading by Example:
Ensure you get yourself sorted that you are inspired to be living your life and happy about coming to work yourself! When you’re inspired you have a great chance of those feelings rubbing off on your team, colleagues and family members!
If you want to be respected first you must respect yourself then respect all others
If you want more love – give more love!
If you want others to strive the be their best – you got it you must do this too
Don’t be afraid to be an energetic leader!
Once you have learnt or mastered something make sure you teach it to someone else within two weeks. Doing so will increase your own learning and retention of that knew knowledge or skill up to 80% where as if you don’t you are likely to have only a 50% retention rate. So learn and share, teach this not only helps another person but significantly helps your success.
For more information
Contact : Jacqueline Pigdon
Tel No : +61 (0) 404 362 379
Email : jacqueline@jinalife.com
