TL;DR: Actions speak louder than words. True leaders don't dictate best practices – they live them. Facing challenges head-on, establishing trust, and ensuring consistency in every action are non-negotiables, and a culture of accountability is the gold standard. By embracing these principles, leaders guide their teams and elevate them, ensuring temporary solutions and lasting engineering legacies. Anything less is not leadership.
Many of us have observed a consistent pattern in our households growing up. Let's take a scenario where a parent emphasizes the importance of honesty to their child, asserting that "truth always prevails." But then, to escape a minor inconvenience, the same parent perhaps tells a small lie in front of the child. With this, the child learns that sometimes deviating from honesty is okay, even if the spoken rule is different. The action becomes the actual lesson, overshadowing any verbal advice.
Now, translate that to engineering. Imagine an engineer who preaches the importance of building robust, extensible solutions. They advocate for code that one can be proud of. But when crunch time hits, they resort to quick hacks, bypassing the solid architecture they preach. With this, the team believes shortcuts are acceptable when the pressure mounts. Instead of building proud legacies, they begin crafting fleeting, unstable solutions.
Throughout my journey, I've understood that the code I write, the solutions I design, and the principles I adhere to in practice speak louder than anything I say. My actions become the living blueprint for my team.
So, in this piece, we will go over the effect of embodying what you preach, both for individual evolution and driving collective team success.
The Value for You
Leading by example is as much a benefit to you as it is to those who follow your lead. I don't immediately push it aside or delegate when confronted with a challenge. Instead, I actively engage with it. This is about personal development. Every complex problem tackled, every bug squashed, and every optimisation adds to my skills. I deliver results and enhance my technical and problem-solving capabilities by facing these challenges head-on.
Gaining respect in engineering is based in tangible actions. If I emphasize the importance of clean, maintainable code, and then my contributions mirror that, the message is reinforced. My teammates begin to associate my name with quality and consistency. Each line of code I commit is a testament to my dedication and integrity. And when others see this dedication manifest in tangible outputs – a clean app or a robust backend system – the trust they place in my words and judgments grows.
So, leading by example is more than an outward gesture of leadership. It's a choice that offers continuous learning, solidifies trust, and fosters a sense of accomplishment in shaping the engineering culture.
The Value to Your Team
Imagine a mission where everyone knows their role and trusts each other completely. When I'm in the trenches with my team, actively solving problems and showing how it's done, the message is clear: we're in this together. Being side by side and facing challenges is about building a bond. When team members see me right there with them, not just talking the talk but walking the walk, trust forms. They know they can count on me and, more importantly, each other. This isn't just about building software; it's about building a team.
Setting standards is about living them. If I put in the time to make my code clean and efficient, it shows the level of quality we aim for. And when the team sees this, it isn't just an abstract concept anymore. It's real. It's tangible. They know the bar, and naturally, they want to meet or exceed it. They push harder, they dig deeper, and soon, excellence becomes a habit, not just an aim.
This proactive approach, where I'm with the team in the trenches, has a ripple effect. Team members become proactive as well. They start taking charge, solving problems before they escalate, and working together better. It's no longer about waiting for orders but taking the initiative. The team becomes more independent, more efficient, and, most of all, more cohesive.
In short, I'm not just making myself valuable by being hands-on and showing the way. I'm making the whole team more robust, connected, and driven to succeed.
Trust
Leading by example is a powerful tool for cultivating trust within a team. When team leaders and members consistently embody the values, work ethic, and behaviors they expect from others, they establish a foundation of respect and credibility. I wrote a piece where I delve into the value of trust in an engineering team:
Consider the implications of a leader who expects punctuality but is frequently late to meetings or one who stresses the importance of project deadlines but regularly pushes them back without justifiable reason. Such inconsistencies erode trust. Conversely, when leaders practice what they preach, they send a clear message to the team: "I value our principles and am committed to them just as I expect you to be."
In engineering, leading by example manifests in various ways. A lead engineer could invest time in continuous learning and share new knowledge with the team, emphasizing the importance of staying updated in a rapidly evolving field. Similarly, when faced with setbacks or challenges, addressing them with a solutions-oriented mindset instead of placing blame encourages a constructive, collaborative atmosphere.
Moreover, leading by example extends beyond technical competencies. Demonstrating vulnerability by admitting when you don't have all the answers, seeking feedback, and making course corrections when necessary show humility and a commitment to growth. Such behaviors inspire trust because they underscore a leader's authenticity.
By embodying these principles, leaders foster a culture where team members feel valued and empowered. They are more likely to take initiative, voice their ideas, and commit to the team's collective vision, knowing they are in an environment of mutual respect and understanding. This dynamic significantly accelerates progress and innovation.
To tie it back to the broader picture of trust in engineering, leading by example serves as a foundational pillar. When trust is what connects individual efforts and team success, leading by example is the framework that supports and nurtures it. Trust and leadership are intertwined, each reinforcing the other.
What's next?
To transition from just instructing to genuinely showing desired behaviors, take the following actionable steps:
Embrace Vulnerability: Begin with humility. Understand that leadership doesn't mean having all the answers or being free from mistakes. When you make an error, admit it openly. This transparency earns respect and creates an environment where team members feel comfortable discussing their challenges and uncertainties.
Consistent Communication: Ensure you're not just communicating but doing so with authenticity and consistency. Share not just the "whats" and "hows", but also the "whys" behind decisions and strategies. When team members understand the bigger picture, they feel more connected and driven towards collective goals. Schedule regular check-ins, updates, or feedback sessions where you convey information and genuinely listen.
Celebrate Shared Successes and Failures: Every success can be a moment of collective celebration, no matter how small. However, failures, too, are growth opportunities. Instead of assigning blame during setbacks, focus on lessons learned and how the team can bounce back stronger. This approach shifts the mindset from one of fear to one of growth and resilience.
Seek Continuous Feedback: True leaders understand that growth is a two-way street. Regularly solicit feedback about your actions, decisions, and overall leadership style. Creating a safe space where team members can provide candid feedback without fear of retribution is essential. Remember, this feedback is an opportunity for self-improvement.
Stay Committed to Personal Growth: Leadership is a journey, not a destination. Engage in continuous learning through reading, workshops, courses, or mentorships. By investing in your growth, you showcase the importance of personal development, motivating your team to do the same.
Build a Culture of Accountability: Lastly, be accountable. When you commit, see it through. When things go awry, take responsibility. This behavior will naturally cascade down, fostering a culture where everyone is proactive, responsible, and invested in their roles.
By embracing these actions, not only will you be leading by example, but you'll also be cultivating a team environment that's rooted in trust, growth, and shared purpose.
Final thoughts
Leading by example is a way of life. It requires authenticity, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to personal and collective growth. It's about setting a precedent that encourages team members to step up, take initiative, and be accountable for their actions.
Being the example is about showing resilience in the face of challenges, staying committed to values even when it's tough, and being consistent in actions and words. Every step taken, every decision made, sends a ripple effect throughout the team. By walking the walk, you inspire and build the foundation of trust and respect.
So, as you step forward, remember that the leadership path is ever-evolving. Embrace the journey, learn from every experience, and always strive to be the leader you wish you had. With its growth, cohesion, and success, your team will be a testament to your exemplary leadership.