Lead By Example

Category: Opinion
Published: July 2006

As a child, I watched and observed my world with innocent eyes. I studied everything and learned at an early age both good and bad habits. My mother and father were hard working and dedicated parents to their six kids, traits that I do my best to emulate today. My father was a vice president at RCA; I was a Director of Operations at Gimbels. My father smoked L&M cigarettes and drank Old Grandad Bourbon on occasion; I smoked L&M cigarettes and drank Old Grandad Bourbon a lot. Later on, when I realized that my father was losing his health and eventually his life because of smoking, I made the intelligent decision to quit both drinking and smoking. I learned from his hard lesson.

As business owners and parents we have the awesome responsibility to our children and to our employees of setting the right example. What kind of a leader and parent are you? What mark have you left on your children and employees? Do you lead by example or do you expect those around you to compliment your unorthodox ways. Do your actions reflect your mission statement, your vision, your goals and your purpose?

As a parent or business owner we have an investment opportunity. If we invest our efforts and time to teach others by example and guide them then both parties will reap the benefits. As a leader of our home or business we give instruction and discipline into our children and employees so that they will mature into men and women that will follow our guide points and plan. We all need direction and discipline. Without this we would be a company or family without boundaries and have nothing but problems.

As a leader we must be decisive, patient and understanding. We must teach and lead our employees and children to have the right attitude towards work and responsibility. When we guide our employees and children, we find that they look to us to see how we execute our plan. Leadership also involves taking initiative and getting the job done by example. We must build confidence, encourage, motivate and stimulate our employees and children to build our company and home into what we envision it to become.

Being a business owner and parent is a tough job. Disciplining our employees and family members is probably the most difficult challenge that we face, but it is a critical necessity. We must risk being unpopular. Discipline can be accomplished without an autocratic whip. Constructive criticism will be received as well as it is delivered. If you come across as a know-it-all insane dictator like Kim Jong Il, your employee or child would not respect you and would eventually would find employment or solace elsewhere. When there is trust in a relationship, then we can expect that there will be conflict. Why? Because our employee or child trusts us and will openly discuss problems or alternative solutions. Conflict leads to resolution, which leads to greater trust, which leads to commitment. Once someone is committed to you as their trusted leader, then they will have accountability to you and your company or family will grow. Discipline centered on understanding will build greater self-esteem in your company and family.

One last thought to keep in mind: There has never been a business owner on his deathbed that said that he wished he could have spent another day at the office. Many business owners risk it all and win financially, but lose their family and themselves in the process. You can succeed at anything you do, but make sure that you weigh the risks of what it takes to be a successful business person. Never risk the loss of your family or honor just to get more of the Almighty Dollar.