“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” — Albert Schweitzer.
THE POWER OF PERSONAL EXAMPLE
During the 1930s, a young boy was utterly obsessed with eating a lot of sugar. His mother was terribly upset about this. But no matter how much she scolded him and tried to break his habit, he continued to satisfy his sweet tooth. Being totally frustrated, she decided to take her son to see Mahatma Gandhi, who was the boy’s idol.
She had to walk many miles across the country, for hours under scorching sun, to finally reach Gandhi’s ashram. There, she recounted her difficult journey and shared with Gandhi her unpleasant situation:
“Bapu (Father), my son eats too much sugar. It is not good for his health. Would you please advise him to stop eating it?”
Gandhi listened to the woman carefully, thought for a while, and replied, “Please come back after two weeks. I will talk to your son.”
The woman looked confused. Then she took the boy by the hand and went home. She made the long journey home and in two weeks made it once again as Gandhi requested. When they arrived, Gandhi looked directly at the boy and said, “Boy, you should stop eating sugar. It is not good for your health.”
The boy nodded and promised he would not continue this habit any longer. The boy’s mother was puzzled. She turned to Gandhi and asked,
“Bapu, why didn’t you tell him that two weeks ago when I brought him here to see you?”
Gandhi smiled and whispered in her ears. “Mother, that time I was not qualified to advise the little one because I too was the same as him, eating a lot of sugar myself two weeks ago.”
This powerful moment illustrates what musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician Albert Schweitzer once said: “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” American politician and former US Secretary of State, Lewis Cass, echoed this sentiment: “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.” In the world of sports, legendary coach John Wooden famously stated, “The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.”
Why Does Personal Example Matter in Leadership?
Authenticity Wins: True leadership isn’t about flashy words or grand titles—it’s about living your values every day.
True Leaders Build Trust: When you lead by example, you earn the trust and admiration of those around you.
True Leaders Inspire Change: Your actions inspire others to follow suit, creating a ripple effect that transforms teams, communities, and even industries.
Call to Action:
Reflect: How are you setting the example in your personal and professional life?
Engage: Share a moment when your actions spoke louder than words in the comments below.
Inspire: Tag someone who embodies the power of leading by example, and let’s celebrate those who truly “walk the walk.” [To be continued].
