Leading by example

Are you a leader, in a factory, in a team, are you a coach, to other leaders or in a sporting environment?

How do you build others up? What does it mean to 'build another person'? Do you laugh at them or with them? Do your words leave them feeling empowered to do well or do those you lead feel worse about themselves after they've been in your presence?

Just remember, every snipe, bad word or joke you mask your own issues with, can and usually does have an effect on someone else's self esteem (how they see themselves and subsequently 'treat themselves').

Every negative feeling you provoke as a response in others, due to the way you conduct yourself triggers a chemical release and a complex neural process which lays down new tracks in the other persons brain - that is what it means to 'build another person' ... Our thoughts lead to our words, our words lead to our actions, our words and action imprint on others.

The challenge is to become aware of ourselves, our thoughts, our own negativity and what drives it. Then we can take control of our own actions and 'choose' how we provoke others, for good or bad, at a deeper level.

We fail to set boundaries, yet control with systems. We fail to control our own emotions as adults, then shout at our kids for not controlling theirs, we slouch on the couch, telling our kids they are lazy. We run businesses from offices never going to or knowing anything about the environment in which the actual value adding activities take place.

If you want to be a 'Good' leader, and 'build others' - become aware of what it means at a neurological and psychological level, otherwise you WILL make mistakes.

Leading by example means you can't be a psychological hypocrite or a walking contradiction. The knowledge is out there, you just have to decide you want it.