Leadership by example

AN acquaintance of mine invited me to train with him at his gym. I was thirsting for new experiences, what with our travel restrictions during this CMCO, so I gladly accepted his offer.

In his gym, it is the norm for people to put back the weights and wipe down the equipment they used.

In fact, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people wiped down equipment before and after use and are particular that you put the dumbbells you use in the exact place you took it from (instead of another free slot on the rack).

Talking about this with a friend who goes to my current gym, he said: “Of course, our gym members won’t bother. Who cares if there are signs telling us to put stuff back or wipe stuff down?

“If the personal trainers themselves leave everything everywhere and couldn’t be bothered, why should the members be bothered?”

Underneath Angkasapuri in the 1980s used to be the slogan Kepimpinan melalui teladan.

Everyday, my family drove along the Federal Highway.

One day, my curiosity got the better of me, and I asked my father what it meant.

My father explained: “It means ‘leadership by example’, Daniel. It means people learn from their leaders.”

According to an article in LinkedIn by Rick Bonilla, leadership by example is important because “(l)eadership is the act of setting the right example for those who follow. Leadership is about actively demonstrating your belief, not just talking about it. People who say one thing but do another eventually lose credibility.”

As a child, this was an interesting concept.

From then on, I used to note how many times leaders (including my parents!) practised this.

At the gym where I am a member, it obviously isn’t.

I strongly believe that if the staff and personal trainers at my gym were to put back what they use – whether when they personally workout or when they train their clients – members will follow suit.

I talked about the difference in attitude between members with my acquaintance with whom I buddy train in the early mornings now.

He nodded and said: “It’s the young ones who couldn’t be bothered to put things back or wipe things down.

“Tell them don’t know how many times and they still don’t do it!

“They even look shocked that they are supposed to do it!”

Because leadership by example has been so much on my mind, this brought to mind what one of my yoga students told me the other day.

This yoga student is a tuition teacher and she said that her pupils were all a little distracted and “crazy” since the MCO began.

Apparently, all these kids were busy playing games on their devices the whole day, even during virtual classes.

I suggested she tell the parents about this.

Her response: “What for? I can see the parents themselves in the background playing on their handphones or tablets.

“The parents themselves are busy on their phones when they consult me!”

As business leader Israelmore Ayivor says: “You don’t lead people by what you say to them; you lead them by what they see you do. True leaders are self-leaders.”

Daniel is passionate about fitness, yoga and writing. Comments: [email protected]