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.