We say over and over again “Leaders are always on the stage.” Why? Because someone is always watching. Someone is always taking the leader’s behavior to inform their impression of her or him and as an example of how to behave. Good or bad, it’s OK. We think, if it works for her or him, it’ll work for me; if he or she can get away with it, so can I.
Michael Schrage, research fellow at the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Center for Digital Business, provides some food for thought along these lines in a recent essay Like It or Not, You Are Always Leading By Example.
In his essay, Schrage makes the point that competence, character, creativity, and charisma, while all very desirable characteristics for leaders to have, are very difficult to measure. He notes, however, that the simple question How do you lead by example? evokes greater self-awareness and actionable insights. Schrage also says that he has identified no better diagnostic for promoting authentic revelations around personal leadership style and substance. Among other things, it pushes leaders to think about how others interpret their behavior. Credible responses require empathy and introspection.
Schrage has been asking senior leaders to list the three most important – or effective – ways that they lead by example for 15 years. Here are several examples that he included in his essay:
Schrage’s question – What’s the most important, or effective, way you lead by example? – prompted me to ask that question of myself. Here’s what I wrote:
Those are some of my answers to the question. What about you? This is an important question for all leaders to take some time and contemplate. How would you answer the question?
1.
2.
3.
Do take some time to think about the question, write your responses down, and send them to me. I will use them (or a selection of them, if there are too many), with or without attribution as you choose for the November 29, 2016 Tuesday Reading. And, in addition to sending your responses along to me, perhaps you might post a copy where you can see it as you work to remind you to be aware that you are always setting examples.
You are always on the stage. You cannot know everyone who will use your behavior as an model to follow. Think about it. Be very mindful of the examples you are setting.
Make your week a great one. . . . jim
References:
Michael Schrage, Like It or Not, You Are Always Leading By Example, Harvard Business Review, October 5, 2016.
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