Leaders often downplay the influence they have. There is a tendency to believe that what is said, how it is said, and when it is, said has little impact. There are some leaders who have fooled themselves into believing they can hold a double standard, and expect those being led to roll with such inconsistency.
Robert Steven Kaplan in his book, What to Ask the Person in the Mirror, debunks this leadership perspective. He says, “Leaders cast a shadow. You may not see the shadow, but your people do” What you do? Who you are? How you act? These all cast a shadow over those you lead. Regardless if you embrace it, or not, you are the organizational role model.
Kaplan emphasizes this when he writes, “The leader is the most powerful role model for the people of an organization. Inevitably, his or her behavior will speak louder than any clever slogan or well-polished speech.”
Charles Barkly, former NBA Star and current Basketball Analyst for TNT Network, was featured in a Nike commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8vh2MwXZ6o) He was making the point he was not a role model. His ability to dunk a basketball did not shift responsibility away from parents. Parents were to be role models. I don’t disagree.
However, you are a role model to those in your organization. You have a responsibility to model expectations, vision, and mission of the company. You cast a shadow.
Ask yourself these questions to evaluate your role-model leadership.
How does your walk reflect your talk?
What message(s) are you sending with your behavior?
What is your perception in how those you lead view you?
When was the last time you asked for a bottom up review?
How would you rate your self-awareness?
Bottom line: You are modeling something. What is that something you are modeling?