Think about how it would feel if our captain shouted orders from the side while we were relaxing in a lifeboat? We probably wouldn’t be the first to shout, “Weigh anchor!” A leader can only be truly authentic and inspiring if they do what they say – that is, walk the talk.

People remember actions, not words. If a leader expects his team to work hard, he must also set an example by “giving himself.” If he preaches about the importance of innovation but sweeps all new ideas off the table, don’t be surprised if creativity withers like a forgotten houseplant. An authentic leader is not afraid to get his hands dirty – even literally. Think of the boss who is the first to grab a mop during a big cleaning. He may not be the most skilled, but the message will be clear to the team. This is the moment when he becomes a “leader” instead of a “boss”. (Jamie Oliver shows a strong example of this in the training film we distribute: Jamie’s Kitchen 15 Lessons

The credibility of a leader is of course not just one factor. Many have written a lot on this topic, i.e. what all factors make up a leader’s credibility (e.g. leadership–credibility.pdf – the question that forms the basis of the article: “What do subordinates expect from a leader? is also available in our film library: Factors of credibility), but somehow my experience as a trainer-consultant is that a) it is difficult to concentrate on many things at once and b) if we are really good at something, the “audience” – the community – will forgive some of our weaknesses.

Credibility does not mean perfection. That is why I will focus only on this in this article, and I recommend this: advertise what you undertake and do what you advertise. So, next time you say, “We are a team!” remember that you are on the field too – not in the lifeboat.

Walk the talk!