What about customer conflicts? Still, good customer service can turn most conflicts into new opportunities to build relationships. Southwest Airlines may be the best current example of both approaches. Much of the televised event was staged, but the collaboration between the two companies in developing it went a long way to resolving the dispute.
Plus, two major charities benefited substantially as the key players devoted proceeds to charity. It went on to achieve top rankings in customer satisfaction, baggage handling, and on-time performance later that year.
Workplace psychologists have long emphasized the importance of autonomy in job satisfaction. For employees to solve problems, they need to be confident they are permitted to take action. Greater empowerment means employees will naturally support one another, celebrate success, and pursue stretch goals.
Without empowerment, they will wait for explicit directions in any situation. By acknowledging that each perspective could offer unique insights, he gave everyone permission to take pride in their work. By soliciting and following up on feedback, he drove positive change at GE, vastly raising employee engagement. True leadership inspires and motivates, helping others tap their potential.
An executive who leads by example primes others to do their best work and be resilient if times are tough. To rise to the challenge, leaders must know their values well and always stick by them. We also know that your MBA should be affordable, engaging, and academically-rigorous. Talk about them all you want but — ultimately — they must be written down in shareable form.
Those answers begin building productive paths and platforms for leadership development. Here are a few examples from my work with executives:. These brief examples share the revelatory self-belief that they merit admiration and emulation. They actively — not just verbally — communicate values the leader personally and professionally believes important else why make it a lead-by-example story?
Three key elements invariably dominate:. Lead-by-example content is both mirror and window into leadership sense-of-self. Examples that stress talent development signal radically different priorities than disciplining malefactors or displaying kindness during family crises. Examples celebrating costs cut or waste eliminated over innovations launched or opportunities explored speak more eloquently than any mission statement.
Leaders must explicitly know whether their examples are over-weighted along some dimensions versus others. For example, lead-by-example stories that only emphasize customers may be as distortive as those that never do. When your team is valued, they are loyal and they value you as a leader. Maybe you became a leader by accident. Perhaps you just happen to be the person who started the company that made widgets because you knew how to make great widgets.
The company grew to a point where you are now in charge of 20 people. Although there are many different leadership styles you can employ, it is important that you act as a leader and not as a friend to your employees. If you are a friend to your employees, it is tough for people to trust in your vision.
Plus, criticism and disciplinary actions are more difficult when you haven't established yourself as the leader of the company. Inefficient systems Leaders who lead by example show their teams how to do things faster and better. Sharpen your leadership skills One of the best ways to lead by example is to learn how to do it.
Communicate kindly Beyond handling conflict, a healthy dialogue is important for all interactions. If a customer complains, respect their concerns and help them find a solution. Bounce back after failure Failure is a natural part of life and business. The key is to dust yourself off and try again, encouraging your employees to do the same.
Practice ethical leadership Ethical leadership means behaving according to a set of strong moral principles. Celebrate diversity Leading by example means embracing employees from all walks of life. To celebrate diversity, be adamant about hiring a diverse team of employees. Here are some other ways to celebrate diversity: Create policies and procedures that make all individuals feel welcome.
Be open-minded and encourage different perspectives. Listen to and recognize team members. Make sure each employee has an equal chance at a professional opportunity. Host employee events that celebrate different cultures. Leading by example 2 Kelvin is a customer service manager for a phone company. What does my team need help with? What do I want them to do that I should also be doing?
How can I recognize my team today? During work Ask yourself: Am I living up to the standards I want my employees to live up to? What can I do right now to model ethical behavior? What do I need to help my employees with right now?
Am I focusing on important tasks? After work Ask yourself: Did I show excellence today? If so, what did I do right? If not, what should I do next time? How can I be a better leader tomorrow?
Leading by example: helping others tap into their potential Leaders lead by example when they set the standard of excellence they want their employees to follow. Maggie Wooll Managing Editor. Read Next. Stay connected with BetterUp. Get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research.
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