the best gift you can give as a leader

“The three most important ways to lead people are:… by example… by example… by example.” 

— Albert Schweitzer

Great leaders know that vision without execution is pointless. They know that merely communicating their vision to others is not enough; they must embody it wherever they go so that it crystallizes in the consciousness of their team members. 

Effective leaders are aware of the fact that other people are watching and modeling them, for better or for worse. And that’s why to inspire others and improve the performance and output of their entire team, they make sure that they act as agents of positive change. 

If you’re relentless about trying to change others without first making those changes in yourself, you’re not a good leader. As John C. Maxwell writes, “As a leader, the first person I need to lead is me. The first person I should try to change is me. My standards of excellence should be higher for myself than those I set for others. To remain a credible leader, I must always work first, hardest, and longest on changing myself.”

The best and most memorable gift you can give as a leader to others is being a good example. When you work hard on improving yourself and make that a main priority in your life, your growth and your journey inspire others to follow in your footsteps. 

Nothing impacts people more than leaders whose values, beliefs and actions line up. You don’t learn effective leadership by words, but by works — by watching and observing effective and influential leaders in action. 

Leadership is akin to a chain reaction. We all need great mentors and leaders in our lives to teach us virtues and honorable traits via their examples. And as we model them, over time, we start embodying their qualities as well, further inspiring the next generation of leaders. As Cory Booker said, “Leadership is not position or a title; it’s action and example.”

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