According to a 2014 Journal of Business Ethics study, leaders who “walk the talk,” were viewed as dependable, credible, and inspirational to their teams. Remember: All talk and no show will ultimately lead to mistrust between you and your team.
Reflect on how to walk the talk
Learning how to walk the talk is fundamental in developing and honing your leadership skills. Start by simply taking a moment to reflect.
How do I ensure that my actions align with my words?
Exercises to help you walk the talk
Now, it's time to put your reflection into action. Finding opportunities to implement your leadership skills can allow you to walk the talk.
- Practice what you preach when fostering a feedback culture. Every time you give feedback ask for it back. Consider: “Do you have any feedback for me? What can I do better the next time?”
- Ask 3 close team members to make sure your words align with your actions. They can help you maintain accountability and serve as motivators to keep yourself in check.
- Break patterns that sidetrack your duties with reminders. For example, if you keep sending the meeting agenda late, set a Google Calendar reminder to send it out before.
What it means to walk the talk as a leader
Walking the talk means your actions match your words. When leaders model the standards they ask for, people trust them and follow their example. When words and behavior diverge, even great messaging loses its power.
How to walk the talk
- Model the behavior you expect. If you ask for punctuality or candor, demonstrate it first.
- Keep your commitments. Follow through on what you say, and close the loop when plans change.
- Be transparent. Share the reasoning behind decisions so your actions make sense to the team.
- Admit your mistakes. Owning errors openly gives others permission to be honest too.
- Align actions with stated values. Make sure how you spend time and reward people reflects what you say matters.
Why leading by example builds trust
Consistency between words and actions is the foundation of credibility. Teams take cues from what leaders do, so recognizing the behaviors you want to see, and living them yourself, reinforces a culture far more effectively than slogans ever could.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to walk the talk?
It means consistently backing up your words with matching actions, so the standards you set for others are ones you visibly hold yourself to.
Why is leading by example important?
People trust and emulate what leaders do more than what they say, so modeling the right behavior is one of the most powerful ways to influence a team.
