One of the quotes, which guided me to develop as a leader was- “ People follow what you do and not what you say”. This I learnt ,way back in 1989, while attending a training session in a class room; but I believe it is valid even today.

I read another quote today morning, which said – “Most people know the walk, but do not walk that way”. We may be aware that people will follow what we do ,rather than what we say but still we continue to do things ,contrary to what we say.

Even as children, we always followed what our parents did more than what they said. As parents today, our children also follow what we do rather than what we say. Today’s children are smarter and if there is a gap between what we say and what we do, they observe and let us know easily.

The work place is no different. Leaders who walk the talk are more admired and followed. A leader, who always starts and end meetings on time, can see her team members on time, every time, for their meetings. It is conversely true too.

We sometimes imagine that the positions we hold in life like a father or mother in the family or a boss at the work place, can give us the leeway to behave differently ,from what we preach. This is not true and we get exposed ,before we even realise our mistakes in life.

Even on the sports field, a captain is followed as long as the captain behaves the way ,he wants his team to perform—Whether it is behaviour on or off the field or a particular skill or even the basics of maintaining a good physique.

Society also respects leaders who lead by example. Gandhiji has been revered across the world, over the last century ,primarily because, he practised before he preached. Even in areas, where he felt, he did not have the moral right to advise someone, he refrained from advising, till he could practise what he was about to preach.

There is a good example from Mahatma Gandhi’s life. Once, he was to advise a child to take less sugar but he refrained from giving this advise till the day he could himself control his urge to consume sugar in excess. Then, after getting over this weakness, he went ahead and advised the child.

So, in life, whether we are seniors in the family or at the work place or in the community, we need to learn to lead by example always. We need to practise before we preach. People will observe and follow ,what we do more than what we say always.

Our actions will always speak louder than our words. The best of leaders I have worked with ,never advised us ,in most situations. They showed through their actions and behaviour ,what is expected of us and we could observe and follow them.

Even parents at home do not advise us ,most of the times. They teach us through their actions ,what is good behaviour in every day life.

Let us learn to practise before we preach

S Ramesh Shankar

24th Dec 2024