“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
— John C. Maxwell
Anyone can give instructions. But not everyone earns respect.
In every business I’ve built or backed, one pattern is crystal clear: teams don’t follow what leaders say, they follow what leaders do.
You can write a 20-slide deck about values, culture, and vision. But if you’re not living those principles daily, your team knows it. Culture is how people behave when the founder isn’t in the room and that’s shaped by what the founder does when they are.
Whether it’s staying calm in chaos, taking responsibility, or showing up prepared, leadership by example builds trust faster than any pep talk ever could.
1-1-1 Breakdown: Lead by Doing
I’ve seen founders preach “transparency” but hide numbers. Promote “ownership” but micromanage. Trust me, your team notices the mismatch.
→ Reflect on This: What’s one value you want your team to embody? Now ask—do you model it every day?
You don’t need to overhaul your leadership style overnight. Start small. Want your team to be more solution-oriented? Start by bringing solutions, not just problems. Want better time discipline? Be the first one on the call.
→ Do This Now: Identify one behaviour you want to see more of in your team. Commit to demonstrating it consistently this week.
67% of employees say they’re more engaged when leaders “practice what they preach.” (Source: Gallup Workplace Study)
In other words, your behaviour sets the bar. And everyone’s watching.
The Next Big Leap (NBL) : Leadership That Inspires Leap
Your Next Big Leap as a business starts with the people inside it and the people inside it take cues from you. Demonstrate the grit, clarity, and ownership you want your team to bring—and they’ll leap with you.
Thanks for Reading!
Hey! I’m Alkesh Agarwal.
An entrepreneur and investor who believes that as we dive into 2025, let’s take bold leaps, embrace growth, and focus on what truly matters – Health, Happiness, and meaningful progress. Here’s to making every step of the journey count!
Read: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek — A brilliant book on leading with empathy and accountability.
Watch: This 5-min clip of Satya Nadella on transforming Microsoft’s culture.
Try: Culture Amp — Use it to get real-time feedback on how your leadership is perceived.
