People Take Their Lead from Their Leaders

A team of people mirroring their leader's helpful behaviours

You have influence!

When you are a leader with teams of people looking to you for direction and guidance, it is important to understand the influence you have on their behaviour and attitudes. Your actions, words, and your demeanour can set the tone for the entire team. This concept is encapsulated in the idea that "people take their lead from their leaders."

You are a role model, for good and bad

As a leader, you are a role model, and your team will naturally look to you for cues on how to conduct themselves in various situations.

This concept relates to how your outward demeanour and behaviours impact on your team. When you are enthusiastic and committed, with a positive attitude, your team is likely to exhibit the same characteristics.

On the other hand, if your demeanour is the opposite, downbeat, not appearing to care, and showing a negative outward persona, then your teams are more likely to feel that it is acceptable behaviour and do it themselves.

Culture comes from the top.

How you approach problems and setbacks can affect your team’s behaviour. If you show resilience and have a problem-solving mindset, you encourage your team to take a similar stance. If you don’t behave like that, then your job becomes immediately insanely more difficult because you’re starting from a negative place and will always be fighting negativity.

It's communication as well as behaviour

The way you communicate is another area where your approach can permeate the behaviours of the whole team. You should aim to be clear, concise, honest and respectful in your communications, whatever the medium. This extends to how you listen to people as well. Active listening shows that you care about what your teams have to say and that boosts morale and engagement.

By keeping lines of communication open, you will create an environment where your team members are comfortable to share their thoughts and ideas, challenge yours and those of their teammates, and that all leads to better answers and more profitable outcomes.

You are being scrutinised even when you don't think you are

Your integrity is under constant scrutiny as a leader. Your behaviour must be impeccable, because if it isn’t then the trust your teams put in you will be compromised. You must model the behaviours you want from your teams.

If you are fair, honest and demonstrate accountability, you will get the same back from your team. Any deviation from the high standards you expect from your team will erode your credibility and undermine their trust in you.

"You must model the behaviours you want from your teams"

Being a leader is stressful, so be aware of your “stress behaviours”. Everyone behaves differently when they are under pressure, and it is often used as an excuse for bad behaviour. “I’m really sorry, I was a bit stressed”, is something you might hear people say, but wherever possible you should look to minimise the differences in your behaviour when you are stressed compared to when you are at rest. Consistency is important as a leader, so your teams know where they stand regardless of the situation. Remaining calm, measured and reasonable in the face of an issue will be valued by your teams and will result in a better solution, more quickly. Panic never improved a situation.

"I'm really sorry I was a bit stressed"

This consistency in leadership is a theme I explored In “35 Thoughts for New and Aspiring Leaders”. I said that when a leader is having a good day, they should strive for their team to have a good day, and when they’re having a bad day, they should also strive for their teams to have a good day!

Remember that leadership is not just about setting an example but also about being approachable and supportive. Your team should feel that they can come to you with issues and that you will support them. This approachability fosters trust and loyalty, making it easier for your team to align with your vision and direction.

Summary

In leadership, you have significant influence on how your team members behave, their attitudes and ultimately, their performance. Your leadership will set the tone, and people will follow, so acting with integrity and accountability will inspire your team to do the same and reach their full potential.