I remember pondering the meaning of these words at a young age, maybe when I first was allowed to sit shotgun as a kid in the family station wagon.  Staring out the window, my eyes would fixate on the phrase etched onto the glass of the side view mirror … all the while my young mind trying to comprehend the hidden meaning and purpose (never thinking about being a “driver”, the person to which the phrase is directed).

As a leader, as a driver of tasks and people, we must remember such simple phrases when we maneuver through the traffic of our career.  Leaders must constantly check their mirrors, watch their surroundings, and plan for the unexpected.  Leaders frequently engage in self reflection when fighting traffic.  Historically great leaders have more importantly paid attention during the smooth sailing, those times when cruise control takes over and we tend to stop focusing on self improvement.

Self reflection helps you strengthen your strengths.  Self reflection reminds you to be cautious of your weaknesses.   Self reflection should help you maintain a humble attitude regarding your thoughts of self, team, and purpose.

Take a few moments every day to look in your mirrors, even if it is just during your ride home.  Spend a little time thinking about how you can improve each time you launch into engagement with your peers, customers, and stakeholders.  I guarantee there are objects in those mirrors… they are probably closer than they first appear.  Make sure you don’t sweep these objects under the carpet, understand their impacts to your attitude, your interactions, and your purpose.  Adjust course and improve your footing, be selfless in your actions.  You must constantly search for ways to improve yourself, never stop looking in the mirror.

You’ll be a better leader for paying attention, those around you will be better off as well.

Remember your high school yearbook, the senior year edition?  We had to list a quote that best fit us.  Sure, plenty of goofy ones, lots of inside jokes that you probably don’t even remember anymore.  I was proud of mine, and still am, just wish I wasn’t so serious at 18 years of age.

“Actions speak louder than words.”

I find myself preaching this to my seven year old, at least a few times a week.

I’m a rambler (guess you can tolerate it, assuming you’re still reading), and I know my words surely are not as powerful as my actions…. Unfortunately you’ll have to settle for the later (not sure I’m ready to have a YouTube camera following me around all day as an alternative).

I’m a true believer that effective leadership starts with sharing a vision, one that your team can grasp and buy into.  Try to find an analogy, put it in their terms, walk in their shoes, help them connect to your vision emotionally; this all takes eloquent use of your words.

In the process, never forget how important your actions are; from your routine to your body language.  Every move you make, every inflection in your voice, every peer you throw under the bus; those are actions that will either bring credibility to your words, or will become the medium that muffles your voice.

Think about this simple thought next time you interact with your team.  Walk the talk; don’t ask your team to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.  Show them your expectations, don’t just mumble them.  You are a leader, no matter what role you play in the organization, time for you to continuously set the example with “actions”.  Use your words to simply redirect emotions back in line with your actions… actions will in turn help refine your expectations.

What saying will go below your name in the yearbook of your career, of your family, of your life?  You can change the etching, it is never too late.

Walk the talk; let your actions speak louder than your words.