The little things leaders model become the big things employees replicate.

I woke late this morning and rushed out the door for a 7:15 appointment. Driving south from my house, I had a thought: “I’m president of our HOA. How I drive through my own neighborhood matters – especially because of my role.”

That thought quickly expanded to this: "Leaders carry added weight - our actions are amplified."

Think about CEOs and CHROs behaving badly at concerts or executives who profess one thing and do the opposite.

The real question became, "What kind of role model will I choose to be? Even when no one is watching, will I choose what's right over what's convenient?"

Employees notice. They take cues from the behaviors that leaders model and tolerate – not just in big moments like earnings calls or town halls, but in leaders’ daily choices:

• Working 18-hour days while preaching balance.

• Gossiping while promoting respect and honest dialogue.

• Avoiding tough conversations while demanding accountability.

All of it leaves a mark. All of it creates waste.

Just as I’d lose credibility if I drove 50 m.p.h. and sped through stop signs in my neighborhood, leaders lose credibility when they choose what's easy over what's the right thing to do.

Because someone is always watching.

#Leadership #RoleModeling #CultureByDesign #LeadByExample #Credibility #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipMatters #IntegrityInAction #TrustAndLeadership #AuthenticLeadership