In the context of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and the 'Leading the Change' domain, 'Leading by Example' is a foundational dimension of the Lean-Agile Leadership competency. It is based on the premise that organizational change is impossible unless leaders model the behaviors they wish to see …In the context of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and the 'Leading the Change' domain, 'Leading by Example' is a foundational dimension of the Lean-Agile Leadership competency. It is based on the premise that organizational change is impossible unless leaders model the behaviors they wish to see in the workforce. Leaders cannot simply mandate Agility; they must internalize and exhibit the Lean-Agile mindset in their daily actions.
Leading by example involves several critical behaviors. First, leaders must demonstrate authenticity and emotional intelligence. This means acting with honesty, integrity, and transparency. By aligning their words with their actions, leaders build the trust necessary to navigate the uncertainty inherent in a transformation. If a leader asks teams to be transparent about failure but hides their own mistakes, the transformation will stall.
Second, leaders must embrace life-long learning. They should actively participate in training, read, and seek new ideas. By demonstrating a growth mindset and admitting they do not have all the answers, leaders create an environment of psychological safety. This encourages teams to experiment, innovate, and take risks without fear of punitive repercussions.
Third, leading by example requires active engagement in the SAFe implementation. Leaders should not just sponsor the change but participate in it by attending System Demos, participating in Inspect and Adapt (I&A) events, and visualizing their own work. By moving from a 'commander' role to a servant-leader approach—focusing on developing people rather than directing tasks—leaders validate the new way of working and inspire the alignment and decentralized decision-making required for Business Agility.
Leading by Example in SAFe
What is Leading by Example? In the Context of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Leading by Example is a fundamental dimension of the Lean-Agile Leadership competency. It operates on the premise that leaders cannot simply command a transformation; they must model the desired behaviors, mindset, and culture they wish to see in the organizations. It shifts the dynamic from 'do as I say' to 'do as I do.' Leaders earn their authority by modeling the desired behaviors for others to follow, inspiring them to incorporate these examples into their own personal development journey.
Why is it Important? Traditional management often relies on authority and policy to drive compliance, but Lean-Agile requires intrinsic motivation and voluntary engagement. Leading by example is critical because: 1. Culture flows from the top: If leaders do not embrace the Agile mindset, the teams will view the transformation as just another management fad. 2. It builds Trust: When leaders exhibit Authenticity and transparency, it creates psychological safety. 3. It promotes Learning: When leaders publicly admit to mistakes or lack of knowledge, it safe-guards the environment for teams to experiment and learn without fear of retribution.
How it Works: Key Behaviors According to SAFe, leaders model the way through the following distinct behaviors: 1. Authenticity: Acting with honesty, integrity, and transparency. Being true to oneself and sticking to one's principles, even when difficult. 2. Emotional Intelligence: Managing one's own emotions and understanding the emotions of others to motivate them and resolve conflict. 3. Life-long Learning: Leaders must engage in ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge. They encourage the organization to do the same. 4. Growing Others: Providing the encouragement and direction for individuals to improve their skills and adopt new responsibilities. 5. Decentralized Decision-Making: empowering teams by moving authority to the information.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Lead by example When facing exam questions regarding this topic, look for the following patterns: 1. Identify the 'Doing' vs. 'Telling': If a scenario asks what a leader should do to fix a cultural issue, reject answers that involve writing new policies, commanding teams, or delegating the fix. Choose the answer where the leader participates (e.g., attending a System Demo, learning a new tool, or facilitating a session). 2. Look for 'Pathological' vs. 'Generative' responses: Correct answers often involve the leader showing vulnerability (admitting a mistake) or removing an impediment personally. Incorrect answers involve the leader punishing errors or blaming the team. 3. Keywords to Watch: Look for Insatiable Learning, Authenticity, and Servant Leadership. If a question asks how a leader leads by example regarding quality, the answer is likely that the leader stops the line when quality is poor or prioritizes technical debt reduction over new features. 4. The 'Gemba' Walk: Leading by example often involves 'Go See' operations. If an option suggests the leader goes to where the value is created to understand the problem, that is usually the correct application of this concept.