look up to leaders

Meaning

To admire, respect, and view key figures or managers as role models. It is commonly used when discussing company culture, mentorship, employee motivation, and career development.

Examples

• New employees often look up to leaders who take the time to mentor them.

  New employees often look up to leaders who take the time to mentor them.

• It is important for junior staff to look up to leaders for guidance during a crisis.

  It is important for junior staff to look up to leaders for guidance during a crisis.

• She wants to be the kind of manager that team members genuinely look up to.

  She wants to be the kind of manager that team members genuinely look up to.

• If employees don't look up to leaders, morale across the company will drop.

  If employees don't look up to leaders, morale across the company will drop.

• We look up to leaders who lead by example rather than just giving orders.

  We look up to leaders who lead by example rather than just giving orders.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The staff looks up for leaders to get inspiration.

  ✓ The staff looks up to leaders to get inspiration.

  The correct phrasal verb meaning to admire is 'look up to'. 'Look up for' is grammatically incorrect in this context.

• ✗ I look up to the leaderships of this firm.

  ✓ I look up to the leaders of this firm.

  'Leadership' is an abstract quality or collective noun, whereas 'leaders' refers to the actual individuals you can admire and respect.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Young professionals need to ___ who demonstrate high ethical standards.

  💡 Admire and respect managers as role models.

  Show answer

  look up to leaders

• When employees ___, they are more likely to stay with the company long-term.

  💡 Have respect and admiration for management.

  Show answer

  look up to leaders