Leaders Set the Tone

If you’re a leader in your organization then you’re setting the “tone” for the entire organization. Now, you can be a leader because of your title or position or you can be a leader in your organization because you influence other people.

The “tone” you set will likely determine the success of those you lead and if your influence is great enough, perhaps the entire organization.

Sometimes we forget we set the tone for those we influence but usually, we are at least a little aware of the fact. What we often don’t realize is “how” we set the tone.

As a leader it’s very possible for you to say all the right things and still set the wrong tone. How you ask is this possible? Well, it happens because our people do what we do, not what we say.  If what you say to do does not match what you actually do then you can be assured that your people will do what you do, not what you say.

You and me, along with everyone else we know are “watchers,” we watch what people do and that’s how we know what they really believe. The “saying” part of leadership is easy, it’s the “doing” part that separates a pretend leader from an authentic one.

Here’s why being an authentic leader is such a challenge: we can’t act the part, we actually have to be the part. We can’t fake anyone out forever, they will “watch” and they will see who, and what we really are.

If you’re a leader in your organization and you don’t like the tone, feeling, atmosphere, whatever you want to call it, then look in the mirror for the source. The change you are looking for in your organization most likely must begin in you.

As a leader you set the tone, the only question is, will it be music to your ears.