The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership

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