Have you watched the Wizard of OZ?

The great and powerful Wizard of Oz, led by pronouncement and staying behind a curtain. It is best to remember, leadership isn’t about pulling levers from behind the curtain. It’s about stepping out, engaging, and inspiring. 

The thought emphasizes that effective leadership goes beyond simply manipulating things from behind the scenes; it involves active engagement, visibility, and the ability to inspire others. 

Leading by Example:

A great leader doesn't just delegate tasks but actively participates in the work. For instance, if a team is working on a challenging project, a leader who steps in to contribute their skills and expertise demonstrates a commitment to the team's success.

Open Communication:

Instead of making decisions in isolation, effective leaders engage in open communication with their team. They encourage feedback, listen to concerns, and address issues transparently. This fosters a sense of collaboration and trust among team members. 

Taking Responsibility:

When things go well, a leader acknowledges the team's contributions. When there are challenges or failures, a strong leader takes responsibility instead of placing blame. This builds credibility and shows that leadership is about shared accountability.

Motivating and Inspiring:

Leadership involves more than just giving orders. It requires the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve their best. This might involve recognizing and appreciating individual and team accomplishments, offering words of encouragement, and creating a positive work environment.

Leading Through Change:

In times of change, a leader doesn't hide behind closed doors but actively guides the team through the transition. This could involve explaining the reasons for the change, addressing concerns, and providing a vision for the future to keep everyone motivated and focused.

Being Accessible:

A leader who is accessible and approachable fosters a sense of connection within the team. This accessibility could involve holding regular open-door sessions, participating in team meetings, and being available to discuss both professional and personal matters.

Building Relationships:

Effective leaders understand the importance of building strong relationships. This could be within the team, with other departments, or with external stakeholders. Building and maintaining relationships requires being visible, approachable, and investing time in connecting with others.

Celebrating Success:

Leadership isn't just about addressing challenges; it's also about celebrating achievements. A leader who takes the time to acknowledge and celebrate successes, both big and small, reinforces a positive and motivating culture within the team.

In essence, the idea is that effective leadership is a dynamic and visible process that involves active participation, clear communication, and the ability to inspire and motivate others toward a common goal. It's not about pulling strings behind the scenes but about being present, engaged, and leading by example.

Ways to Lead by Example

Good leaders should lead by example. Through their actions, which are aligned with what they say, they become a person others want to follow. When leaders say one thing but do another, they erode trust, a critical element of productive leadership. Here are 10 of the dozens of ways to lead by example.

1. Take responsibility. Blame costs you your credibility, keeps team members on the defensive and ultimately sabotages real growth.

2. Be truthful. Inaccurate representation affects everyone. Show that honesty really IS the best policy.

3. Be courageous. Walk through fire (a crisis) first. Take calculated risks that demonstrate commitment to a larger purpose.

4. Acknowledge failure. It makes it OK for your team to do the same and defines failure as part of the process of becoming extraordinary.

5. Be persistent. Try, try again. Go over, under or around any hurdles to show that obstacles don’t define your company or team.

6. Create solutions. Don’t dwell on problems; instead be the first to offer solutions and then ask your team for more.

7. Listen. Ask questions. Seek to understand. You’ll receive valuable insights and set a tone that encourages healthy dialogue.

8. Delegate liberally. Encourage an atmosphere in which people can focus on their core strengths.

9. Take care of yourself. Exercise, don’t overwork, take a break. A balanced team, mentally and physically, is a successful team. Model it, encourage it, support it!

10. Roll up your sleeves. Like Alexander the Great leading his men into battle, you’ll inspire greatness in your followers