Whether we realize it or not, we are all leaders in some capacity. Each one of us has the potential for leadership whether it be within our families, our friends, our workplaces, our places of worship, our educational institutions, our neighborhoods, extracurricular activities we may participate in, and the list can go on and on.
If we are leaders now or leaders in training, we should all work to lead by example but what does “lead by example” mean exactly? It means being the best version of ourselves. It means being honest, humble, hard-working and committed. It means persevering, staying the course, taking initiative, communicating in a healthy manner with others, contributing to society with a positive and compassionate attitude toward ourselves and others, being fair and courteous, being teachable, and willing to help others.
Leading by example can mean many things. There is a negative and even damaging, connotation to leadership just like there is with anything else. It is our responsibility to demonstrate leadership qualities that will help others learn, promote growth, and foster courage and discipline. In so doing, we will pass on to others the passion and pride that comes from our success and maturity that leading by example brings to the table.