What You See is What You Do

A well-known author said about leadership: "People do what people see." Long before a vote is taken, and even in the absence of a vote, people often choose their leader based on what they see. Formal titles are often immaterial, and can even be distracting if they pollute a person's head with notions of good leadership being more about talk than action.

Here's a comment from a veteran major league baseball player about his teammate:

"Guys see his passion, his desire to excel, and the fun he has playing, and they want some of what he's having."

A teammate pitcher was in the process of melting down in one game when this leader called time out and approached the mound. Covering his mouth with his glove as if he had something important to say, he cried "Matty, I need the rosin bag. I'm sweatin', man. Where is the rosin bag? I need the rosin bag!" It sounded like nothing, but it relaxed the pitcher and changed the whole mood.

That's what can happen with great leaders. Their actions energize a winning atmosphere, and results follow. People do what people see.