Exemplifying the Behavior You Want to See in Others

Welcome back to "Learning STRATactically", a monthly column aligned to learning and human resource professionals who focus on the strategic and act on the tactical – providing thought leadership for sharing, reflecting and discussing as life-long learners.Last month at HRIQ, our article asked what you were doing to engage and lead a multi-generational workforce within your organization. Today, we will examine characteristics of leadership and how exemplifying related behaviors will inspire, motivate and prepare future leaders. Providing the framework of leading by example will enable you, regardless of your position within the organization, to exemplify leadership daily, and allow a legacy of leadership to grow and develop now and in years ahead.Each of us has experienced others, regardless of their position within the food chain of success, who have led by example. These individuals have inspired our actionable behavior related to work ethic, attitude toward others, and they have sometimes even caused us to re-think our own behaviors and attitudes at work or at home. Leading by example is not a concept to be exemplified eight hours each day; rather, it should resonate within us constantly: at work, at home and at leisure, as part of our personal ethos.From our earliest memories of people and relationships, from parents to peers to presidents, we have watched and learned from the behavior and oratory of others. We know the right thing to do, we have witnessed it, and now, we only need to replicate it. We are an amalgamation of all that has come before us. Regardless of our position within our organizations, communities or homes, people are watching us; therefore, you should ask yourself, what are they seeing? Are they seeing individual actions that inspire others to follow or stir themselves and others to lead? Your individual behavior is observed by many. Is it the type of behavior that exemplifies your leadership traits and influences others to follow your example?Individual behavior is critical to successful formal and informal leadership traits being embraced, adopted and exemplified. We offer you a simple way to heighten your sense of leadership behaviors and to measure your success using the acronym ICRELIEF.ICRELIEF provides a conceptual framework of various leadership concepts and traits germane to an individual’s personal growth and professional development. How an individual views and personally exemplifies related behaviors determines if they have what it takes to lead by example. You must strive to exemplify behaviors which reinforce pragmatic achievements – you must "not talk the walk", rather you must "walk the walk" for others to see and replicate. Reflect on a positive contribution you have made in life, and build a story around it so that when you are talking with subordinates, peers or superiors, your story plants a seed for change, enables others to communicate similarly, transmits values, fosters collaboration, tames the grapevine, shares knowledge and leads others to exhibit leadership behavior. Let ICRELIEF be the vehicle to tell your story. Each letter of ICRELIEF is indicative of a leadership behavior we should exemplify each day.Today we will begin to outline how you, as an Individual, can have impact. The "I" in ICRELIEF represents your ability to recognize that only you can choose to exemplify leadership traits through your behavior(s) and lead by example. Ask yourself, what significant event has recently occurred in your life, personal or professional, and how did you respond? What behavior did you exhibit? Was it a behavior that exemplified what a leader would do or something less? Did others witness your behavior? How did they respond?As we continue this series, we will be reviewing the other letters of ICRELIEF. The "C" asks if your behavior was a good Choice? Did your behavior cause you or others to Change for the better? Could you have been more Creative in your behavior? Were you in Control of your behavior? Were you Confident in choosing that behavior? Will you remain Committed to your behavior? Once we have explored the "Cs", we will then address the other components of our acronym – Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Leadership, Investment, Expectant Attitude and Fun!We encourage your comments and reactions, and yes, next month, we will continue this series related to the importance of "Leading by Example: Exemplifying the Behavior You Want to See in Others – Part II" within your organization STRATactically.About The AuthorAlan A. Malinchak isthe Chief Learning Officer at Homeland Security Solutions, Inc. (HSSI) and capture/business development executive for eLearning training programs and initiatives. The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) recently recognized HSSI with the 2012 award 21st Century Best Practices in Distance Learning.Al has over 35 years of professional experience in the government (FBI Retired), industry, academics and a U.S. Navy Veteran (DAV). Al has received the 2011 Learning Elite Award and has four Gold Division 1, "Learning in Practice Awards" from Chief Learning Officer Magazine: in 2009 for a Learning Team which established horizontal relationships across business units; in 2008 for Business Impact resulting from eLearning initiatives having a significant impact on profit/loss and business operations; in 2007 for Leadership as a learning industry thought leader; and, in 2006 for Achievement Impact based on e-Learning design, development and accomplishments. Al can be reached at malinchaka@homelandsecurityinc.com or contact him through LinkedIn .

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