WOW Word-Of-the-Week #505: Role Model
April 10, 2014 by Susan Clarke
Role Model – one who sets a good example.
How many times have you heard, “Actions speak louder than words? Are you a leader that role models the behavior that you would like you staff to exhibit? Do your manager’s role model the behavior they expect of you?
This is the follow up and final WOW taken from the Expert Advice Column in the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, written by Jennie Wong and titled “3 MISTAKES EVEN GOOD MANAGERS CAN MAKE.”
Jennie writes, “If you’re new to managing others, you are undoubtedly on a learning curve of your own. But what if you’ve been doing it for a while? What if 
you’re actually pretty good at it? Chances are, you’re still making these common mistakes. Good managers inadvertently commit these errors all the time, but once you realize where the stumbling blocks are, you can make a different choice and evolve to the next level of leadership.
Mistake No. 3 – Modeling the Wrong Behavior
You’re probably saying all of the right things to your staff. But are you leading by example? For instance, you may tell your employees it’s important to keep their skills up to date, but when was the last time you invested the time and money to learn a new skill or attend an industry conference?
Perhaps you want your sales reps to be out there networking, but how many mixers and meet-ups have you been to this quarter? Or do you tell your employees to stay home when they are sick but insist on soldiering into the office when you have your case of the sniffles?
Managers are people too, and we each have our own imperfections. The trick is to make sure you are setting a good example in your key actions.”
This week’s focus is on role modeling. Do your actions speak louder than your words? Do your managers expect you to act differently than they do? Do you know someone who is a good model? What could learn from them?