lead by example

Meaning

To guide or influence others through your own actions and behavior rather than just your words. It is a highly valued leadership quality where managers do the same work and follow the same rules they expect from their team.

Examples

• A good manager should lead by example and arrive on time every day.

  A good manager should lead by example and arrive on time every day.

• She leads by example, always staying late when the team has a tight deadline.

  She leads by example, always staying late when the team has a tight deadline.

• If you want your team to be honest, you have to lead by example.

  If you want your team to be honest, you have to lead by example.

• He doesn't just give orders; he leads by example by working on the front lines.

  He doesn't just give orders; he leads by example by working on the front lines.

• Our CEO believes in leading by example, which is why he shares an open-plan office with us.

  Our CEO believes in leading by example, which is why he shares an open-plan office with us.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Great leaders lead with example.

  ✓ Great leaders lead by example.

  The correct preposition is 'by', not 'with' or 'through' in this fixed idiomatic expression.

• ✗ You should lead by an example.

  ✓ You should lead by example.

  'Example' is used as an uncountable/abstract noun in this idiom; do not place an article ('a' or 'an') before it.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Instead of just telling us to be positive, our boss tries to ___.

  💡 Show the desired behavior through actions.

  Show answer

  lead by example

• If you want to build trust in your team, you must ___.

  💡 Act how you want others to act.

  Show answer

  lead by example