Leading people in the workplace isn’t an easy task. It’s more complicated than it seems. The workplace has people with different personalities and perceptions, and each of them has something great to offer. Unless you understand how to lead by example, you may find it challenging to bring everyone together. In this article, you will learn some of the ways to lead by example and motivate your employees.
If you have great execution habits and practical leadership, you can always bring out the best in your employees.
Contrary to what you may think, you don’t need a leadership title to become a great leader. All you have to do is to always think and act like a good leader. Try to speak less and achieve better results. Don’t forget that actions speak louder than voice.
Even if you are highly knowledgeable, your knowledge is useless if you aren’t applying it. That’s why great leaders always lead with their actions rather than their words.
So, here are some of the ways to lead by example and motivate your employees:
Read Also: 8 Steps to Becoming a Thought Leader
#1. Bring the Best Version of Yourself
One of the best ways to lead by example is to bring the best version of yourself. There’s no way you can bring out the best in your employees if you aren’t at your best.
For instance, you are setting a poor example as a leader if you always come to the office late. With this habit, it’ll be difficult to reprimand your employees when they come in late. If you want to foster trust and improve productivity throughout the organization, you must practice what you preach. That’s what great leaders do.
Once you can build a great relationship with your employees based on trust and mutual respect, performance will improve throughout the organization.
So, your first task as a leader is to set a good example for your employees. Try to always do what you preach and keep every promise you make. Otherwise, your employees won’t trust you for long. And distrust breeds disconnection, which will bring about poor performance.
At all times, try to be the change you wish to see in your employees. That’s the only way you can bring out the best in them. Once your coworkers see changes in you through your actions, it’s easier for them to do the same.
Additionally, ensure that there’s effective communication and collaboration with your employees. It will improve productivity and put everyone in the direction of the company’s goal.
#2. Improve Your Communication Skills
Communication is an important skill you need to be successful in both your business and professional life. Effective communication is always involved in every noteworthy achievement. That’s why excellent communication and honest conversation is one of the ways to lead by example.
Communication goes beyond the use of words. It includes the use of your body and facial expression to send your message. Furthermore, it’s important to listen more than you speak as a leader. It will help you understand problems and identify possible solutions based on comments from your coworkers.
Whenever you meet with your subordinates, try to communicate effectively, listen more, ask the right questions, and use simple gestures like a head nod and smile to show approval. Interestingly, these little forms of human connections with your employees will promote positive vibes throughout the office.
Again, try not to avoid conversations that are uncomfortable and confrontational. Of course, it’s not an easy thing to do. But if you can toss your ego aside and have these conversations with your employees, it will go a long way to motivate your employees. Without a doubt, great communication is one of the ways to lead by example.
#3. Empathy
Empathy is a flower that doesn’t grow in every leader’s garden. But people with empathy are exceptional leaders that will always motivate their subordinates to perform better. It’s a form of emotional intelligence that enables you to understand and share other people’s feelings.
Any leader with empathy will build great relationships and achieve long-term success. It’s one of the best ways you can lead by example. So, make it an essential part of your practice to show empathy towards your colleagues, coworkers, and office personnel.
However, it’s not easy to understand and place yourself in other people’s shoes. But you can start with acknowledging their pain, share how you feel about their situation, express gratitude that the person opened up, be supportive, etc. It’s certainly the easiest way to build trust with your subordinates and show them that you care.
Additionally, leaders who show empathy will always build long-term relationships to improve the company’s culture. Once you give the impression that you are an empathetic leader, your employees can trust you with important information, and this will go a long way to improve the overall performance of your organization. Again, companies with empathetic leaders have low employee turnover.
#4. Get Down and Dirty
One of the best ways to lead by example is to be involved in the work. You can’t lead from the sidelines; you must be on the forefront and know every aspect of the business’ operations.
You can’t give what you don’t have. If you don’t know much about the business, your chances of success are slim.
So, always work closely with your team because it will build trust, improve your skills, give you more knowledge about the business, and learn more about your employees’ skills, including their areas of strengths and weaknesses.
Leading by example breeds trust, productivity, and career growth in the work environment.
