Give yourself a character audit.
First, make a list of your core values, such as integrity, hard work, honesty, etc. Then, think about your actions for the last month. What incidents, if any, stand out as inconsistent with those values? List as many as you can recall. Be careful not to dismiss or rationalize anything too quickly. These items will show you where you need to work on yourself. Work on changing not only your actions but also your attitude.
Get an accountability partner.
Ask a trusted colleague or friend to watch you for at least a week to compare what you teach with how you conduct yourself. Ask them to record any inconsistencies. Then plan to meet at the end to review the results. At that meeting, you may ask clarifying questions but avoid defending yourself. Instead, plan to change either your actions or philosophy to make them consistent with one another.
Model your expectations.
List three to five things you wish your people did better than they currently do. Now, grade your performance for each. To be more objective, you may also ask someone else to grade you. If your self-scores are low, then you need to change your behavior. If they’re high, then you need to make your example more visible to your people.

Become an exemplary leader

How to Apply This