Leading by example is the most effective form of inspirational, motivational leadership. To inspire employees to adopt the behaviors they value, leaders must demonstrate these behaviors consistently and authentically.

Leadership coaching can help you develop these behaviors and attitudes and turn them into powerful habits.

“Never separate the life you live from the words you speak.” – Paul Wellstone.

Exemplary Leadership Meaning and Relevance

At its core, exemplary leadership means consistently modeling behaviors aligned with one’s values and purpose. It reflects the maturity of leadership where influence is earned through trust, integrity, and visible commitment, not position alone.

These are leaders who establish principles and then live them.

They act as beacons of clarity in the fog of the status quo, challenging conventional norms and inviting others to envision and build a better future.

Exemplary Leadership Model

Leading by example is the ultimate test of leadership. To lead by example means to “walk the walk.”

Leaders who provide meaningful examples to their followers do so by living, acting, assuming attitudes, and behaving consistently according to their values, goals, and purpose.

Modeling the behaviors leaders like to see in their employees and peers is the most effective way to spark and sustain positive change.

Never underestimate the power of positive examples.

The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership

Five essential behaviors define highly effective and exemplary leaders:

1. Model the Way – Leaders clarify personal values and set the standard by aligning their behavior with those values.
2. Inspire a Shared Vision – Leaders enlist others in exciting possibilities and vision beyond the current reality.
3. Challenge the Process – They question the status quo and seek innovative ways to grow, improve, and lead change.
4. Enable Others to Act – Leaders foster collaboration and mutual respect, strengthening the team by making each person feel capable of contributing.
5. Encourage the Heart – Leaders celebrate accomplishments, recognize extraordinary efforts, and build a culture where extraordinary things happen.

Characteristics of Exemplary Leadership

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell.

Exemplary leaders display leadership traits that set them apart from immature leaders with low self-awareness who fail to appreciate the power of example.

Intelligent leaders understand that they must learn to lead themselves before they lead others. They know that this aspect of leadership is the most challenging, as it requires ample determination, discipline, and commitment.

Some other characteristics of exemplary leaders are:

• Integrity. To earn followers’ trust, exemplary leaders must demonstrate high moral standards, transparency, and honesty.
• Authenticity. People sense authentic behavior and reward it with their trust and admiration.
• Resilience. Exemplary leaders allow leadership maturity to bounce back from failures and face adversity with optimism and composure.
• Accountability. Exemplary leaders hold themselves and others accountable. They assume responsibility for their mistakes and find ways to learn from setbacks instead of seeking to deflect blame.
• Visionary thinking. Leaders who inspire others through their words and deeds have compelling visions that they communicate clearly and often.

The Impact of Leading by Example

The beneficial impact of leading by example is profound and far-reaching. Leaders who adopt this genuine and honest form of leadership:

• Command trust and credibility
• Inspire and motivate others
• Hold themselves and others accountable
• Communicate effectively
• Provide a model of success for others
• Facilitate the organization-wide alignment of principles and behaviors

Leaders’ actions always have far-reaching impacts that ripple through their organizations.

How Exemplary Leadership Shapes Culture and Performance

Those who lead by positive example can amplify this effect, using it to build solid, development-focused organizational cultures.

Exemplary leadership shapes the leader-employee dynamic in different ways.

• Inspiration. A leader’s foremost job is to inspire their teams to do their best. A positive leadership example is worth more than a thousand empty words. Exemplary leaders can energize, motivate, empower, and support their teams through their actions.
• Work culture. Teams look to their leaders for guidance, and purpose-aligned actions provide the most straightforward, genuine, and sensible guidelines for everyone. Leaders who “walk the walk” inspire their employees to do the same, leading to organizational cultures that value collaboration and innovation.
• Motivation and Engagement. A true leader shows the way by going the way. It’s one thing to tell people where to go and what to do. It is quite another to go there and do what needs to be done, showing people what you expect of them. An exemplary leader is highly motivating and engaging for followers. A positive example leaves no room for doubt and debate.

Innovation and Creativity. Exemplary leaders demonstrate creativity and encourage calculated risk-taking. Their attitudes toward failure and learning rub off on their followers. They communicate a clear vision and reward forward-facing thinking and innovation.

The benefits of exemplary leadership are many and far-reaching.

7 Strategies for Leading by Authentic Example

“The three most important ways to lead people are: by example, by example, by example.” – Albert Schweitzer

1. Show Vulnerability: Openly acknowledge your shortcomings and emotions. Human connection deepens when leaders model authenticity and create space for honest feedback.
2. Practice Gratitude: Grateful leaders foster positivity, motivation, and appreciation. A simple thank-you can elevate morale and strengthen team culture.
3. Lead with Empathy: Empathy requires emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Listening and understanding others builds trust and deeper engagement.
4. Be Transparent: Share information openly to empower others. Transparency builds trust and encourages psychological ownership of goals and values.
5. Demonstrate Accountability: Own your mistakes and hold yourself to high standards. This sets a clear example that it’s safe to learn and grow from failure.
6. Model Work-Life Balance: Respect your own boundaries and encourage others to do the same. Balanced leaders help prevent burnout and promote sustainable performance.
7. Set the Standard with Work Ethic: Show commitment through action—be present, engaged, and dedicated. A strong work ethic is contagious when led from the front.

You can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time.

Conclusion

As a leadership coaching expert, I see leading by example as one of the central tenets of intelligent leadership. It is a principle I observe in my life and coaching activities. Leading by example allows me to establish rapport with clients, demonstrate coaching principles, provide practical guidance, and model a growth-focused mindset.

Exemplary leadership is the most genuine and natural form of inspirational leadership. Effective leaders who model the behaviors they want to see in their employees are more likely to succeed than others. The key to the success of exemplary leadership is to turn desirable behaviors into habits, assuming their full, authentic ownership.

To adopt optimal behaviors successfully, reflect on your actions and behaviors and identify areas where you can improve. Enlist the help of a business coaching expert for better results.

Leaders establish principles rooted in respect and integrity, creating a foundation where human dignity is honored and teams are empowered to achieve small wins that build lasting momentum.

Today’s leadership challenge isn’t just about strategic decisions—it’s about leading by example in a world hungry for trust and transparency.

Schedule a free discovery session with John Mattone Global to explore how Intelligent Leadership Coaching can help you turn actions into influence, align personal values with strategic outcomes, and lead by example—so others follow not because they have to, but because they want to.

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