The Importance of a Project Manager's Leadership

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It is crucial for a project manager to possess leadership skills. In day-to-day management, a common issue among many managers becomes evident: they hold others to the standards of a saint while holding themselves to ordinary human standards. At work, they impose numerous requirements on their subordinates. These include being punctual, abiding by discipline, treating customers with sincerity, and devoting full effort to their work. Yet they either fail to meet these standards themselves or only meet them halfway.

The first layer of leadership is leading by example. If you want your team to achieve something, you must achieve it first; if you dislike certain problems arising in the team, you must root them out in yourself first. If you demand that your subordinates do what you cannot, you will be unable to lead the team effectively. There are various costs associated with managing people: some rely on institutional constraints, some on bonus incentives, and others on authoritarian suppression. However, the most cost-effective form of management is leading by example. Today, let’s delve into this topic.

What Does It Mean to Lead by Example?

Instead of focusing on what a person says, we should pay attention to what they do. Many bosses complain about various management issues and a lack of internal strength within the organization, but have they taken the initiative to tackle these issues themselves? And to what extent have they done so? Leading by example speaks louder than a thousand words. How can we understand leading by example? It consists of three dimensions:

1. Behavioral Demonstration

This refers to using your own actions and behaviors to set an example for employees. When you show a positive, responsible, and dedicated attitude, which includes taking work seriously and rigorously, not giving in easily when encountering difficulties, and actively looking for solutions, your enthusiasm and commitment will motivate the team. As the old saying goes, "If a manager sits idle, the team will lie idle." For a manager, failing to hold yourself to higher standards and enhance self-discipline will lead to subordinates becoming more lax and indulgent, and thus make effective team management impossible.

2. Value Transmission

This refers to aligning words with actions. What you believe in, what you say, and what you do must be consistent. You should not say one thing but do another, or present different faces in public and in private. If you advocate "customer first," you must demonstrate patience and professionalism when handling customer issues; if you emphasize "innovation," you must dare to try new methods and share your experiences. When you have good character, integrity, and moral bottom lines, your subordinates will not resort to deception or fraud.

3. Responsibility and Accountability

Leading by example also manifests in taking responsibility. This includes refusing to shirk responsibility when problems arise, proactively assuming your own duties, and setting an example for the team. Why is responsibility so important? Because a sense of accountability is "contagious." If you take the lead in shouldering challenges, your subordinates will dare to charge forward; if you shift blame to others, your subordinates will pass the buck to one another. This kind of "accountability through leading by example" requires no training or assessment, yet it helps the team develop the courage to face difficulties head-on.

Leadership is not about titles, privileges, or positions; it is about responsibility and getting the right things done. True leadership stems from personal charisma and the power of example, not merely from the authority granted by a position. And leading by example is precisely the core way to build such leadership.

4 Tips for Leading by Example

Leading by example is not an empty slogan; it needs to be integrated into daily management habits. Here are 4 tips to share with you:

1. Maintain Constant Self-Awareness

The journey of every person is like a monkey climbing a tree. When you are at the bottom and look up, all you see are the monkeys’ bottoms, and no one treats you with a friendly face. However, when you reach a higher position and look down, all you see are smiling faces. Many people’s mindsets become complacent once they take on management roles. They no longer get their hands "dirty" or their feet "muddy"; they think they are "different" from ordinary employees, so naturally, they fail to lead by example. But as management theorist Peter Drucker once said, "Unless you can manage yourself, you cannot manage anyone or anything." Therefore, you must maintain constant self-awareness. Frequently reflect: Does your behavior meet the requirements you set for the team? Are you practicing the values you advocate? Good management always starts with managing yourself. This means taking concrete actions and leading by example.

2. Start with Small Things

Some managers, especially senior ones, always talk about "vision" and "strategy." In fact, no matter how grand the vision is, it must be rooted in practical actions that start from small details. Henry Mintzberg once asked, "Haven’t we suffered enough from remote-controlled leaders who only talk about ‘grand visions’ and ignore everything else?" Leading by example does not mean doing a few grand, dramatic things; it means maintaining consistency between your actions and your requirements in daily trivial matters. For instance, if you require the team to be punctual, you must arrive early yourself; if you ask for concise reports, your emails must not be lengthy; if you urge the team to innovate, you must not cling to old processes. In addition, daily details such as personal appearance, keeping your desk tidy, and abiding by meeting rules are all important ways to demonstrate leading by example.

3. Do Not Evade, Cover Up, or Shirk Responsibility

A manager’s ability to lead by example is most evident when they are questioned. When problems arise, evasion will disappoint the team, covering up will make you lose trust, and shirking responsibility will escalate conflicts. Only by facing the issue openly and taking the initiative to assume responsibility can the team feel that "the leader is standing with us." Therefore, tell your subordinates to dare to expose problems and dare to "open their own wounds." For example, if a senior employee in the team is fired and this triggers many suspicions, do not cover it up. Instead, take the initiative to "disinfect" the situation by telling everyone the reasons behind the decision. The collapse of trust often starts with the first cover-up; the strengthening of trust comes from consistent openness and transparency. Only by laying things out in the sun can the organization "breathe fresh air."

4. Proactively Seek Feedback

Some managers fail to lead by example because they are unaware of inconsistencies between their words and actions. They may not realize that they are late for meetings, interrupt others casually when speaking, or make promises on a whim without ever keeping them. The hardest thing for a person is to see themselves clearly. Therefore, you need to learn to "look in the mirror" and "let others step on your toes." "Looking in the mirror" means engaging in self-reflection. It involves analyzing yourself and examining your actions three times a day, as the ancient saying goes. "Letting others step on your toes" means seeking feedback on your behavior from subordinates, peers, or superiors. This helps you understand whether you are truly leading by example, allowing you to make improvements based on that feedback.

Finally, I want to say: The best management is not making the team "listen to you," but making them "want to be like you." Because you have become the person they want to be, they will naturally follow you to go further. In management, there has never been "what you should do." There is only "what I should do." There has never been "incompetent employees." There is only incompetence in oneself. You can never change others; you can only change yourself. Only by leading by example can you influence others to change.