Leading by Actions Not Words

Leadership is never about titles or speeches. It’s about the example you set in the quiet moments when no one’s applauding. If you want a team that’s resilient, show them how you handle adversity with grace. If you want a team that’s accountable, own your mistakes first. If you want a culture of trust, act with integrity even when it’s inconvenient. Your team will always follow your example, not your instructions. They’ll mirror your habits, your mindset, and your energy. Words may inspire, but actions lead. So here’s the question: What message is your behavior sending to the people around you? If you wouldn’t follow your own example, why should they? Great leadership doesn’t demand loyalty. It earns it by showing up authentically, consistently, and purpose.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿: 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 I've observed something fascinating about leadership: Your team remembers 10% of what you say, but 90% of what you do. The truth about workplace culture isn't written in handbooks - it's demonstrated in hallways, meeting rooms, and everyday interactions. Daily habits that define you: • How you treat the cleaning staff • Whether you're punctual for meetings • If you take blame but share credit • How you handle stress • Your response to after-hours messages Each action sets an unspoken standard: When a leader stays late, the team feels pressured to match. When a leader admits mistakes, it creates psychological safety. When a leader skips lunch, it normalises unhealthy habits. Your choices create invisible rules. The real test? Ask yourself: Would I want to work for someone who acts like me? The gap between words and actions is where trust goes to die. Culture isn't what you preach. It's what you permit and practice. Your team is always watching, not to judge, but to understand: "Is it safe to be honest here?" "Do we really value work-life balance?" "Are mistakes truly opportunities to learn?" They find answers in your actions, not your words. So, what story are your daily choices telling?

Leadership speaks volumes through actions, not just words. A recent video highlighted this profound reality, emphasizing how teams mirror the behaviors of their leaders, much like children emulate adults. Modeling Behaviour's Influence: Every action, no matter how small, conveys a significant message. Dismissing ideas devalues team contributions, while complaining about colleagues normalizes negativity. Yielding to pressure suggests resilience is dispensable. Every choice, interaction, and reflective moment molds organizational culture more profoundly than any strategic document or company-wide address ever could. Setting the Example: Leaders must introspect: What lessons do our actions impart? How we manage stress, listen to others, and embody our values leaves a lasting imprint. It shapes not just the present but also molds the next cohort of leaders observing us. Leadership is not about your title or what you plan to do. It is about consistently living the values you want to see in others. People are always watching, so the real question is not if they are watching - it is what they are learning from you.

Leading by Example: In the realm of leadership, the adage 'actions speak louder than words' holds profound truth. As a leader in the oil and gas industry, I've learned that leading by example is not just a strategy, it's a responsibility. Let me share a story that underscores this belief. Early in my career, when I was just starting out with my first venture in Chanute, Kansas, we faced a significant challenge. One of our key projects was lagging, and morale was low. I realized that what my team needed was not just instructions, but inspiration. So, I rolled up my sleeves and joined them in the field. We worked together, through long hours and challenging conditions. That experience didn’t just help us meet our deadline; it solidified a culture of mutual respect and teamwork that became the cornerstone of our company's ethos. This experience taught me that leadership is not about sitting in an office issuing commands. It's about being present, showing your team that you're willing to do what you ask of them. It's about building trust and respect through shared experiences. And most importantly, it's about embodying the values and work ethic you want to see in your team. As leaders, we must remember that our actions set the tone for our organization. When we lead by example, we create a culture of accountability, excellence, and collaboration. This approach not only drives results but also fosters an environment where every team member feels valued and inspired to contribute their best. #Leadership #LeadByExample #Teamwork

Great strategies rarely fail because they’re wrong — they fail because they’re not understood. In every successful organization, one element stands out: clear, consistent, and authentic top-down communication. When leaders communicate with intent and back their words with action, three powerful outcomes follow: 🔹 Clarity of direction: Teams know not just what to do, but why it matters. 🔹 Trust and credibility: Communication backed by consistent behavior builds belief. People don’t follow what leaders say—they follow what leaders do. 🔹 Cultural alignment: When the message and actions from the top are in sync, the organization naturally moves in one direction, with shared purpose and energy. Because communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about walking the talk. When leaders embody the messages they share, strategy turns into action, and intent turns into impact. In today’s fast-changing business environment, clarity and credibility are the ultimate competitive advantages. How do you ensure your communication as a leader is backed by consistent action?

Are you walking the talk? Influence is not a birthright which comes with a title - unlike the unpopular opinion! A position may provide a platform, but your actions resonate and leave a lasting impact on your team members. Actions, after all, speak louder than words. Here are a few reflections on why influence is derived from actions: ✅ Lead by Example: A leader who embodies the values they talk about becomes the right example for others. Demonstrating commitment, hard work, and ethical decision-making sets a standard that team members are likely to follow. STOP ONLY TALKING BIG THINGS, IF YOU DON'T WALK THE TALK. ✅ Build Trust: Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership. It is cultivated not by the title one holds, but by consistently demonstrating honesty, transparency, and reliability. Trust is an invaluable currency that can only be earned through genuine actions. STOP GOSSIPING AND BACK-BITING YOUR OWN TEAM MEMBERS. ✅ Empower Others: A leader's influence grows when they empower others to succeed. By fostering a culture of collaboration and investing in the development of team members, a leader amplifies their impact far beyond the confines of their title. STOP DOUBTING THEIR STRENGTHS AND DISEMPOWERING THEM. ✅ Embrace Accountability: Leaders who take responsibility for their actions, whether they lead to success or failure, earn the respect of their team. Acknowledging mistakes and learning from them demonstrates humility and a commitment to growth. STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR FAILURES AND TAKE THE LIMELIGHT FOR SUCCESS. ✅ Effective Communication: Communication is not merely about the words spoken but also about the actions that reinforce those words. Consistent and clear communication builds a shared understanding and fosters a sense of unity within the team. STOP BEING VAGUE AND CONFUSING THEM. Your legacy will be defined not by the titles you held, but by the positive impact you made through your actions. #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #leaders

Trust isn’t earned through promises or words; it’s built through consistent actions over time. What you do speaks louder than what you say, and true trust comes from demonstrating integrity, reliability, and accountability. When leaders follow through on their commitments, they show their team that they can be counted on. It’s the small actions the daily decisions that align with your values that establish trust. Saying the right things is easy, but showing up and doing the right thing is what truly builds credibility. Trust grows when leaders act in ways that show they care about the team’s well-being, development, and success. This requires leading by example, being transparent, and owning up to mistakes when they occur. When actions consistently match words, trust is strengthened, and relationships deepen. People are more likely to engage and contribute in an environment where they feel trusted and respected. Trust is not a one-time act; it’s something that is built daily through integrity, consistency, and effort. Leaders who demonstrate trustworthiness foster loyalty, accountability, and collaboration, making the entire team stronger. Trust is the foundation of strong, successful teams. Without it, communication breaks down, collaboration falters, and goals become harder to achieve. Leaders must remember that trust is not given freely it must be earned through consistent actions that align with their promises. The more trust is built, the more resilient and united a team becomes, capable of overcoming challenges together. Ultimately, actions speak louder than words, and trust grows when leaders show that they mean what they say.

𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲. Here’s what real leadership looks like — without saying much. Some people think trust comes from speaking often, or making sure everyone knows who’s in charge. But that’s not what builds real trust. The leaders people trust the most don’t talk their way into credibility. They earn it — through action, not volume. They do small things that change how people feel — and how teams perform. But trust is harder to earn than most realise. 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝟱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 trust their company’s leadership. (𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘱 – 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 2023) It’s not because leaders don’t talk enough — it’s because too many don’t show what really matters. Here are 5 silent behaviours that trusted leaders share: • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀   They listen fully   before shaping what comes next.    • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲   When things go well, the team shines.   When they don’t, the leader steps forward — not away.    • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹   Their questions unlock ideas,   not show off their own.    • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁   Not everything gets time —   but the right things always do.    • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀   No panic. No blame. Just focus. And one more: • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲   People follow them by choice —   not because they must. This is what real leadership looks like. It doesn’t need to be loud. It just needs to be real. Great leaders leave you feeling stronger, not smaller. They create space — and let others take it. That’s when you know it’s real leadership. “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek Which of these have you seen in action? And which one is most often missing? 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲.

Leadership is 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀. Empower. Inspire. Innovate. Motivate. They sound great in theory, but in practice? They’re meaningless unless backed by action. True leadership isn’t about saying the right things—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. Here are 10 actionable ways to lead, no buzzwords required: 1 // 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿. → Ambiguity is the enemy of productivity. Define success so your team knows exactly where to aim. 2 // 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆. → Celebrate wins in front of the team. Discuss areas for growth one-on-one. 3 // 𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁. → Cancel that non-urgent meeting and spend time in the trenches with your team. Leadership happens where the work does. 4 // 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀. → Before offering a solution, ask: “What do you think?” Empower your team to think critically. 5 // 𝗦𝗮𝘆, '𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄.' → Admitting when you don’t have all the answers builds trust. It also models humility. 6 // 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲. → If you value punctuality, show up on time. If you demand accountability, hold yourself accountable first. 7 // 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. → Identify the obstacles in your team’s path and clear them. Then step back and let them shine. 8 // 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. → From mentorship to training, leadership is about helping others grow—even if it means they outgrow their role. 9 // 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀—𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺. → Burnout doesn’t inspire loyalty. Respect your own time and theirs. 10 // 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁. → No one thrives under unpredictable leadership. Build trust by staying steady, even in chaos. Leadership doesn’t need fancy words to be effective. It needs action. 📌 Which of these resonates with you the most—or is there one you’d add? Share your thoughts below ⤵ ---- ♻️ Repost and share these leadership tips ➕ Follow me, Ashley VanderWel, for more 📲 Book an anonymous coaching session

Your team's not copying your words. They’re copying your ways. Across the military, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, I've seen this reality play out. Culture doesn’t form from a mission statement. It forms from what your team sees every day. Not the values on the wall. The ones in the room. Your team is always learning. Are you modeling what you want multiplied? Because you’ll replicate ↳ What you tolerate ↳ What you embody ↳ What you prioritize Here’s how to spot what you’re teaching: ✅ Listen to how they treat the “least.” → They'll mirror how you value people. → Character is shown when there's nothing to gain. ✅ Notice who speaks up (and who won’t). → Silence may indicate a gap in trust. → People speak when they feel safe to do so. ✅ Watch how people respond under stress. → Stress exposes what's been imparted. → Teams echo what the leader normalizes. ✅ Pay attention to how people disagree. → Curiosity must be modeled first. → Are challenges welcomed or avoided? ✅ Look at how they show up. → Are they calm or frenzied? → Your presence and pace set theirs. People follow your example, not your intentions. Your words say what you think matters. Your actions show what actually does. Culture is always being built. Make sure it’s on purpose. What has a leader's actions built into you? ♻️ Repost to help leaders model well. For more: 🔔 Follow me, Paul DiCicco. ✉️ Try the Lead Well, Live Well Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e-8fvs8d