Page 152 - The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership
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8 Setting an example
‘Leadership is example’.To be successful, a good leader must ‘walk
the talk’. Employees take a fraction of the time to know a leader as
he/she takes to get to know them.The example you are giving is quite
simply you.Whether this is a good or a bad example depends on
the leader.
An example is set in verbal and non-verbal ways and all aspects of
a leader’s words and deeds must be considered in the light of this.
If example is contagious, it is worth ensuring that a good one is set
to encourage the qualities sought in others.
Some key questions for good leadership are:
• Task – do you lead from the front/by example?
• Team – do you develop your teams’ standards through
the power of example?
• Individual – do you view each individual as a leader in
their own right?
Bad example, particularly of hypocrisy, is noticed more than good,
so care must be taken in all that a leader says and does.
142 The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership
