“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

A proclamation so strong that JFK chose to use it in an emotional speech in 1960.   Do you know leaders who epitomize this statement? It’s easy to repeat safety mottos, corporate values, vision statements, performance absolutes, and the like.   But the “do as I say, not as I do” mentality only goes so far. After all, it’s not what we say, it’s what we do that matters.

Many of us have the best of intentions when we state lofty expectations. But our actions are on display every day and if we do not lead by example with our peers, we might as well say nothing at all.   Credibility and respect are earned by backing up our words with direct and visible action. It’s best to set the standard by way of example—otherwise, we might never be heard. Don’t let your best intentions be lost in the din of inaction. Remember, it’s what we do that really counts.