It’s the end of the year and the time when scores of people make resolutions to do something better or live differently in the year ahead. It’s a great idea, but all too often just an exercise in futility as people speak volumes, but then accomplish little toward the achievement of their goal. Weight is never lost, finances not improved, and relationships left un-mended, even though the intention was to actually make the New Year count. All of us have done this and have made a public commitment to make a significant change in the way we live our lives, only to fall off the wagon and revert back into the same old habits.
On many levels, it could be argued that this is not the end of the world and that making hallow resolutions is all part of the traditions that make the holidays the special time that they are. But here is why making resolutions and actually achieving them is important for anyone who is leading others, particularly leading volunteers. When we lead, people watch us. They want to know that we can be trusted. They want to know that our words mean something and that if we say we will do something, we really will. They want to know that if we ask them to do something, like resolve to improve in an area of work or life, we will do it to. They need to see us lead by example.
When speaking of corporate responsibility, Nelson and Trevino (2004) state,
Your people will pay more attention to what you do than what you say. The most important thing for managers to remember about their job as role model is that what they do is infinitely more important than what they say. They can preach ethics all they want, but unless they live that message, their people won’t. As a manager, all eyes are upon you and what you’re doing. Your actions will speak much louder than your words and if there is a disconnect, you will have no credibility.
In a 2010 article using Alexander the Great and Winston Churchill as examples, J. Broudy makes the argument that to be a strong and effective leader, one must be a strong role model, because the end goal is for the employees to become “a perfect reflection of you.” So, as we all think about the resolutions that are floating around in our minds this time of year, I challenge each of us to think about whether or not we want the people we lead to be our own “perfect reflection.” Do we make good on the promises we make? Or, are we hurting our credibility with them because we aren’t following through on our own stated commitments?
Before we make this year’s list of resolutions, we must ask ourselves if we will actually do what we say we will do. I believe it matters because how well I live up to my words may make the difference for someone I’m leading to live up to theirs.
Lead well. Happy New Year.