Model the Behavior

The standard you walk past is the standard you set.

What’s that mean?

It means your behaviors & actions are what set the standards on your team or in your department. You walk past a piece of trash on the ground without picking it up. Your employees see it. The standard has been set, and you haven’t even said a word.

Now, imagine you stop, pick up the trash, and take it to the nearest trash can. You can see how a completely different standard is set when you do this.

How about walking by your employee’s desk and they are watching a YouTube video on their phone—do you say something?

What message do you think your lack of action sends to the teammates watching the behavior?

Setting the standard is just one of many leadership accountabilities. The best way to set that standard is to model what’s expected of your employees. If you want your employees to uphold the standards, you have to show them you care about the standards first.

When it comes to leadership, setting the standard comes from actions, not words. How you decide to respond to a violation is more powerful than any speech you can give.

Show them what right looks like!

Until next time,

Rick