Leadership is always the root cause.

One of my least favourite leadership related comments is “lead by example”.

Every time I hear it said I want to ask - “What’s the example?”

Because, of course, the example could be terrible.

Asking to give an example of the example, exemplifies the problem. We struggle to know what example leads.

However, at the root of this comment is a great truth.

We know that what our leaders do has a direct affect on outcome. There is a fundamental and felt link between leadership and performance, quality, teamwork, safety, trust and any number of other outcome examples!

In my mind whatever the outcome, good or bad, leadership is ALWAYS the root cause.