I’ve written a couple of articles that somehow relate to other people’s management, and there are two reasons for this:

1. Managing other people is considered the next step in almost every career path.
2. Managing other people is one of the most difficult skills to master.

In other words, you can never read enough about effective management from other people. It is in this line of thought that I am going to share with you one of the most important tips that I can give: Lead by example.

It sounds simple enough, but you would be surprised how often we do something that sends a bad message to our team. Here are three ways you can send a good message to your team and become a better team leader accordingly.

• First to come, last to go – In general, you should be the first to get off your team to work and the last to leave. This sets a great example for the rest of your team as to the level of your commitment not only to your project but to them. It will really help to establish a good work rhythm as they can see you working well from the moment they wake up to the time they leave. Now this doesn’t always have to apply. For example, if one of your team members needs to work overnight on something, you don’t have to stay with him. However, when you can, try to follow this advice.
• Do not take the time of “sick” – Now, before you light the torches, let me explain. It’s perfectly okay to take a day off if you’re really sick. What I mean is “sick days” where you may be taking it for another reason (don’t even try to tell me you’ve never taken one). While this in itself is unacceptable, when you start to be responsible for others, it is even more so. You don’t have the freedom not to worry for a day, as people’s jobs could be up to you. What if you are not there to answer a question and the work stops? What if you miss a deadline because of that? This domino effect is only getting worse and is something to think about before canceling.
• The “bad mouth” ends – This could be the most important point of the three. When you’re in charge, you need to keep morale as high as you can. This means that “badmouthing” other co-workers or your project is practically over. Think of it this way: If your manager starts talking about how terrible your project is, what is he going to think? If they can’t handle it, how should you? This also applies to your co-workers, especially anyone on your team. You should never use them, so to speak. Your team will be inspired by you and you must set a good example. They most likely need to work with these people, and you want that to happen smoothly without anyone having preconceived notions.

Your better performing team can only help you in the long run. It is a blessing not only for the success of your current project, but also for the success of your career.