Your team will never exceed the standard you demonstrate. Every time you cut a corner, tolerate mediocrity, or fail to follow through, you set a new ceiling for everyone watching.
There’s a phrase in leadership that gets repeated so often it’s almost lost its weight:
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”
Most managers hear it and nod. Few actually live it. Because living it means holding yourself to the same — or higher — standard than everyone around you. Every day. Especially when it’s inconvenient.
Your team is watching. Not occasionally — constantly. They notice when you’re late but expect punctuality. They notice when you skip the process you told them to follow. They notice when you say accountability matters but never admit your own mistakes. And they adjust their behaviour accordingly.
Role modelling isn’t a principle you believe in. It’s a behaviour you demonstrate. Without it, the other four Rs in the 5R Framework collapse.
Why Your Behaviour Sets the Ceiling
Teams rarely exceed their leader’s example. They might match it on a good day. But the ceiling is always set by what the leader does — not what they say.
If you respond to emails at midnight, your team learns that boundaries don’t exist. If you blame others when things go wrong, your team learns that accountability is optional. If you’re visibly checked out during difficult periods, your team learns that presence doesn’t matter.
None of this requires a conversation. It happens through observation. And it compounds. Small inconsistencies between your words and your actions erode trust faster than any single mistake.
Five Ways to Lead by Example
Three Questions to Ask Yourself
2. Is there a gap between what I say matters and what I actually demonstrate?
3. When was the last time I admitted a mistake to my team?
If any of those made you uncomfortable, that’s useful information. Not a criticism — a diagnostic. The 5R Framework isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness and consistent action.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Early in my management career, I asked my team to follow a new process I’d introduced. Two weeks later, I noticed most of them had reverted to the old way. My first reaction was frustration. Then I realised: I hadn’t been following the new process consistently myself.
When I started visibly using it — every day, without exception — the team followed within a week. No reminder needed. No second conversation. They just needed to see me do it.
One Thing to Do Right Now
Put the 5R to Work
The 5R Leadership Toolkit includes self-assessment templates, daily trackers, and the one-page framework reference.
Get the 5R Toolkit — £12
