The Seven Traits of a Role Model At its core, all businesses are just people carrying out an idea. It’s never the other way around – there is no idea so big that it doesn’t need people to make it succeed. Investors know this, hence the saying “Bet on the jockey, not the horse.” A great jockey is a great role model. Like it or not, everyone looks to the entrepreneur as the jockey of a new business. Typically this energizes rookie startup founders, but some struggle trying to live up to their own – as well as everyone else’s – expectations. In reality, nobody really expects anyone to be superhuman, but it can feel like that. We certainly wouldn’t expect superhuman behavior from the people looking to us for guidance, nor would we want them to expect flawless behavior from themselves. If not flawless behavior, what characteristics and actions do they look for?

Seven Qualities of Positive Role Models

  1. Demonstrate confidence and leadership. A good role model is someone who is always positive, calm, and confident in themselves. You don’t want someone who is down or tries to bring you down. Everyone likes a person who is happy with their achievements, but continues to strive for bigger and better objectives.
  2. Don’t be afraid to be unique. Whatever you choose to do with your life, be proud of the person you’ve become, even if that means accepting some ridicule. You want role models who won’t pretend to be someone they are not, and won’t be fake just to suit other people.
  3. Communicate and interact with everyone. Good communication means listening as well as talking. People are energized by leaders who explain why and where they are going. Great role models know they have to have a consistent message and business plan, and repeat it over and over again until everyone understands.
  4. Show respect and concern for others. You may be driven, successful, and smart, but whether you choose to show respect or not speaks volumes about how other people see you. Everyone notices if you are taking people for granted, not showing gratitude, or stepping on others to get ahead.
  5. Be knowledgeable and well rounded. Great role models aren’t just “teachers.” They are constant learners, challenge themselves to get out of their comfort zones, and surround themselves with smarter people. When team members see that their role model can be many things, they will learn to stretch themselves in order to be successful.
  6. Have humility and willingness to admit mistakes. Nobody is perfect. When you make a bad decision, let those who are watching and learning from you know that you made a mistake and how you plan to correct it. By apologizing, accepting accountability, and correcting course, you will be demonstrating an often overlooked part of being a role model.
  7. Do good things outside the job. People who do the work, yet find time for good causes outside of work, such as raising money for charity, saving lives, and helping people in need get extra credit. Commitment to a good cause implies a strong commitment to the business.

True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have, and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. They help us to advocate for ourselves and take a leadership position on the issues that we believe in. We often don’t recognize true role models until we have noticed our own personal growth and progress. That really implies that it takes one to know one. Thus, if you are asking the question, that may mean you are well along the road to being that role model already. Don’t stop now. If an organization is to run smoothly and sustainably, people need to be at the right place for the right reasons. Bound by their responsibilities and with the best interest of the company at heart, managers are expected to have the ability to make all the right decisions and act accordingly. What’s more, they need to set a strong example for others. To bring out your full potential as a manager, learn how to be a good role model for your team through the tips listed below. But before that Let’s understand what does it mean to be a role model.

  • How To Be A Good Role Model For Your Team: 6 Tips For Managers
    • What does it mean to be a Role Model?
    • The 5 qualities of a Good Role Model
      • 1. They are passionate about their work
      • 2. They are authentic
      • 3. They are supportive
      • 4. They are encouraging
      • 5. They are inspiring
    • Why must managers be good role models for their team members?
    • 6 tips for managers to become good role models for their employees
      • 1. Show respect for others
      • 2. Be patient and understanding with your employees
      • 3. Take the time to listen to them and understand their concerns
      • 4. Take the time to develop a positive work culture
      • 5. Coach, guide, and encourage your employees when they need it
      • 6. Stay up to date with changes in the industry or your field of work
    • Conclusion
  • Other Related Blogs

What does it mean to be a Role Model?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the term “role model” can mean different things to different people. For some, a role model is someone who they aspire to be like. Someone who is successful and has a lot of admirable qualities. For others, a role model might be someone they know personally. A friend or family member who they look up to and respect. A role model at the workplace is someone who employees can look up to for guidance, support, and mentorship. It is an employee in an organization who is admired by others for his or her abilities, achievements, and qualities. They are often leaders in the company who do plan company activities and have a wealth of experience that they can share with others. The important thing to understand is that when an individual or group chooses someone to be their role model it is because the person being called the role model embodies the values, qualities, behavior, positive attitude, hard work, and persistence that they want to emulate.

The 5 qualities of a Good Role Model

A good role model has a lot of qualities embodied in them. The 5 main qualities they are usually known for are:

1. They are passionate about their work

Role models not only have a great work ethic, but they are also passionate about their work. When people are passionate about their work, they tend to take it more seriously and put in more effort. This often results in better quality work and more success. Passion is contagious. When someone sees that their role model has perseverance and is passionate about their work, it encourages them to be passionate as well. This can lead to a domino effect, where others become inspired by the role model’s passion and are driven to achieve even more.

2. They are authentic

Role models are authentic. They don’t put on a persona for the public. They are genuine in their interactions with other people, and they stay true to themselves. People can tell when someone is being fake, and they don’t respect or admire those kinds of people. People often look to role models as a way to find authenticity in their lives. A role model is someone who is admired and looked up to because they are real and honest. Role models share their vulnerabilities and talk about their mistakes. This makes them more relatable and people feel like they can connect with them.

3. They are supportive

Role models make you feel supported. They help you to believe in yourself and give you the strength to achieve your goals. We often turn to role models for inspiration and support as we navigate through life. There are many ways in which role models do support their followers:

  • They can help them set goals and achieve their dreams
  • They can also provide them with support and encouragement when they need it most
  • Role models can help them learn new things and grow as individuals

4. They are encouraging

Role models encourage and motivate people to achieve their goals. Good role models provide encouragement and support, and they help you stay on track when you feel like giving up. They also teach you how to handle difficult situations and make good decisions. A positive role model can help you become a better person and achieve your goals. We often look to role models for guidance and encouragement, especially when we are trying to make important decisions in our lives. They never put us down, but instead, help us to believe in ourselves and our abilities. They also provide practical advice and feedback, which is invaluable when we are trying to improve our skills. Ultimately, good role models encourage us to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

5. They are inspiring

A role model can provide inspiration and motivation, leading to better decisions and a more positive outlook on life. Role models can help young people develop their talents and figure out what they want to do with their lives. People of all ages can benefit from having a role model. It’s important to find someone who you feel comfortable looking up to and emulating.

Why must managers be good role models for their team members?

Managers are majorly considered as role models whether they like it or not. Employees observe the way managers treat others, make decisions, and react under pressure. They then try to replicate that behavior themselves thinking it is the optimum way of doing it. All this happens unconsciously. A manager’s job is to lead and motivate their team. To do that, they need to be good role models for their team members. If team members see their manager working hard and taking care of their work, they will be more likely to want to do the same. As a result, becoming a good role model is critical for a manager to become an effective manager. Managers also need to be good role models for their team in terms of attitude and behavior. They should always be polite and respectful, and never lose their temper in public. If team members see their manager reacting negatively to a situation, they may start to think that it’s okay to do the same in the future. Manager must embody the company’s values and expected behavioral traits. By being a role model manager, the manager can create a positive team that deals with every adversity with positivity and in a responsible manner and gets the work done with full potential. Team members will be more likely to trust their manager and follow their lead if they know that the manager is someone they can look up to. A manager’s ability to become a role model for their team decides if they can become a good manager as well as a good leader or not.

6 tips for managers to become good role models for their employees

1. Show respect for others

The first thing a manager should do to become a good role model is to set an example for their team. This means behaving in a way that shows respect for others, and modeling the type of behavior you want to see from your team. Treat others the way you want others to treat you. When managers show respect for their employees, they are communicating that they value the employees and their contributions. This can help to build trust and create a positive work environment. In addition, treating employees with respect can help to avoid conflict and promote cooperation. All that will ultimately make the manager a perfect fit for their role model.

2. Be patient and understanding with your employees

One of the most important things a manager can do to become a role model is to be patient and understanding with their employees. This means setting a good example for them to follow and taking the time to listen to them and help them when needed. When things get tough, it can be tempting to lash out at employees. However, this will only damage your chances of becoming their ideal role model. It will also make it difficult for them to perform well. Instead, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Communicate openly with employees, and be understanding of any problems they may be facing. By being patient and understanding, you will build trust with your employees and be able to help people when needed.

3. Take the time to listen to them and understand their concerns

Employees want to feel like their concerns are heard and that they have a voice in the company. They also want to see their managers taking the time to listen to others and set a good example. If you want your employees to emulate the best qualities of you as a manager by seeing you as a role model, then you need to take the time to listen to them and understand employee concerns. When employees feel like they can approach their manager with any issue or concern, big or small, they’ll be more likely to trust and respect the manager. And that’s what will make them want to do their best work for the manager and see him or her as a role model.

4. Take the time to develop a positive work culture

Positive work culture is key to having a productive, successful team. When team members feel appreciated and supported, they are more likely to do their best work. As a manager, it’s important to take the time to develop a positive work culture and be an example for your team members. If you as a manager want yourself to become the role model of your team members, you need to set the bar high. Show them that you care about your work and that you’re always willing to put in the extra effort. Be supportive, communicative, patient, and most importantly, lead by example.

5. Coach, guide, and encourage your employees when they need it

Your employees are looking up to you as their role models. They want to be like you, and they want to be able to do the things that you can do. But sometimes, they may feel like they can’t do everything that you can. This is where you come in as their coach. You need to be there to encourage them and guide them when they need it. You need to be the one who helps them to see the potential that they have, and the potential that they can reach. You need to be the one who helps them to be their best selves.

6. Stay up to date with changes in the industry or your field of work

To be a good role model, a manager needs to stay up-to-date with the changes in the industry or their field. This is not an easy task because it takes a lot of time and effort to stay on top of all the changes that are happening in the world. Still, it is necessary to stay updated for becoming a good role model and to make sure that you are meeting the expectations of your organization and your employees or team members. You must be seen as an expert in the area of your work. If not, you will not hold any credibility in your team’s eyes.

Conclusion

Being a manager, it’s time to start being a good role model for your team. A good role model is someone who sets an example and teaches their team the right things, both in and out of the office. With this in mind, we have listed six tips for managers to become good role models for their employees. We believe that if managers can follow all these tips and if they can develop the 5 listed qualities of a good role model, the chances of them becoming the role model of their employees will shoot for the highest. This blog post will help managers to understand how what it means to be a role model and how they can become good role models for their team

Download the free constructive feedback toolkit to create a positive atmosphere in your team.

A one-stop guide to mastering constructive feedback for managers and leaders. When I saw the movie Jaws for the first time, it made me afraid of being in ocean water. Well, I always was leery of it, but the movie definitely solidified my opinion. Even now, I never go in too far. Although the shark scenes were unnerving, they weren’t the ones that left the biggest impression on me. There is a wonderful moment between Sheriff Brody and his son at the dinner table. The most powerful role models for children sit across from them at the dinner table. As his wife clears plates off of the table, Brody sits staring off into the distance, clearly deep in thought. He doesn’t notice his young son watching his every move from a foot away. When he takes a drink, his son takes a drink. When he folds his hands, his son folds his hands. Finally, he sees his son mirroring him. He starts to playfully make movements and faces for his son to copy, ending with a kiss. The most powerful role models for children sit across from them at the dinner table. It’s you. Are you wondering how to be a role model to your kids? Here are 10 ways.

1. Healthy Living

When we eat properly and exercise regularly, not only does it improve our own lives, but it sets the example for our children. Childhood obesity can lead to depression and disease. This is not to say a parent needs to go overboard, but every reputable expert will tell you that moderation is the key in diet as well as exercise. Keep yourself inside the healthy range for where you are in life.

2. Self-Improvement

Apply whatever cliché you choose here, but you certainly can teach old dogs new tricks. Self-improvement should always be on our minds. Try new experiences and broaden your horizons. This teaches our children to never stop growing. There’s always something new to learn in this life. Try to learn something new every day. When thinking about how to be a role model, start with self-improvement.

3. Serving/Volunteering

Make it a regular habit to get out in your community with your family and volunteer your time and talents. This is one of the best ways to build family unity, teamwork skills, and most of all, generous and serving hearts. Teach your kids to meet the needs of others.

4. Open up Your Life

Do not hide who you are as a person to your children. Share your past experiences when it is appropriate—mistakes and victories. Show them that vulnerability is a virtue that comes from a position of strength. Take your children to work with you and let them see your daily life. Status doesn’t mean a thing, but your attitude and your demeanor mean the world.

5. Self-Control

Releasing our emotions, whatever they may be, is healthy and reduces stress. How we go about doing that in front of our children, however, has major consequences. As difficult as it can be, it is essential to practice self-control as much as possible in front of our children. Bite your tongue and control that temper. If need be, take it out in the gym or go for a long run.

6. Right Relationships

We have many important relationships and not all of them are going to be pleasant. Maybe there are issues with your parents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, or ex-wife. Forgive and give grace. Seek to be right in your relationships over being right. Make it as hard as possible for anyone to say anything bad about you. Be an initiator and always take personal responsibility first.

7. Respect and Listening

If you want to teach your kids how to be confident, it starts with showing them respect for who they are and listening to their own unique thoughts. This is a tough aspect of leadership, but the best leaders listen carefully and talk far less. Open your mind and your ears to what your children are telling you. They will, in turn, learn to do the same later in life.

8. Positive Attitude

There is plenty of negativity to be found in society today. Do not add to the daily chorus your child experiences. Instead, display a positive and reassuring attitude and optimism.

9. Goal Setting

Setting goals is important to give us a benchmark of where we are going and the progress we are making. Implementing and achieving those goals are of equal importance. When our kids see us moving along exactly according to plan, it shows them the importance of organization and self-discipline. Help them come up with their own set of goals and praise them when the goals are met.

10. Walk the Talk

The single most important aspect of being your children’s role model is to always say what you mean and mean what you say. Walk the talk. Back up your words with visible and concrete action and be a man of integrity and value. Actions speak volumes. And as Benjamin Franklin pointed out, “Well done is better than well said.” Sound off: Do you know how to be a role model to your kids? What would you add to the list?

Huddle Up Question

Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Who is your greatest role model?” When your child was younger, your role was to lay the foundations for their behaviour. For example, you probably showed your child how to cooperate and take turns with others. Now your child is older, they can start taking responsibility for their own behaviour. But you’re still an important role model. What you do shows your child how you want them to behave. For example, how you cope with feelings like frustration and distress influences how your child regulates their emotions. What you eat, how much you exercise, and how you look after yourself all influence your child. What you say is also important. You can help your child to manage and control their behaviour by talking about how behaviour affects other people. You can also talk more with your child about the differences between right and wrong. Now’s a good time for this because your child is developing their ability to understand other people’s experiences and feelings.

Practical tips for role-modelling

Here are some practical ideas that can help you be a role model for your teenage child:

  • Include your child in family discussions, talk openly and give them input into family decisions, rules and expectations. These are good ways of helping your child understand how people can get along with others and work together.
  • Try to do the things you say your child should do. Teenagers can and do notice when you don’t!
  • Keep a positive attitude – think, act and talk in an optimistic way.
  • Take responsibility for yourself by admitting your own mistakes and talking about what you might do differently to avoid the same mistakes in the future. Try not to blame everything that goes wrong on other people or circumstances.
  • Use problem-solving skills to deal with challenges or conflicts in a calm and productive way. Getting upset and angry when a problem comes up encourages your child to respond in the same way.
  • Show kindness and respect in the way you speak about and behave towards other people.
  • Be kind to yourself, and treat yourself with the same warmth, care and understanding you’d give to someone you care about.

Your influence on pre-teens and teenagers

You’re an important influence on your child, along with your child’s friends and peers. But your influence on your child is different from the influence of their friends. Your child’s friends are more likely to influence everyday behaviour, like the music your child listens to or the clothes they wear. As a parent, you influence your child’s basic values, like religious values, and issues related to their future, like educational choices. And the stronger your relationship with your child, the more influence you’ll have, because your child will be more likely to seek your guidance and value your opinion and support. In fact, if you have a strong relationship as your child becomes a young adult, they’ll probably end up with values, beliefs and behaviour that are similar to yours. Teenagers need you to stay in touch with them and what they’re up to, even if they don’t show it. You can take an interest in what they’re doing with their friends without invading their space if you balance your child’s privacy with monitoring and trust.

Ideas for influencing pre-teen and teenage attitudes and behaviour

You can influence many aspects of your child’s behaviour as well as their attitudes. Here are some of the areas and ways you can influence your child. Friendships
When your child was much younger, you probably influenced the friends they made by managing their social activities and friendships. In the teenage years, you do still have an indirect influence over your child’s friends. You shape your child’s attitudes and values, which in turn shape their choice of friends. It can seem that because teenagers and their friends are similar, they’re influencing each other. But the main reason that friends are similar is that teenagers, like adults, choose to be friends with people who are like them. Respectful relationships
You can help your child to choose and build respectful relationships by role-modelling respectful and caring behaviour in your own relationships. And if you find yourself in a disrespectful relationship, model positive ways to manage that – for example, by being assertive, talking with the person involved or seeking professional help. You can also stand up for yourself in a respectful way. This can be as simple as politely saying no to others – for example, ‘I can’t work late today because I promised to help at my child’s soccer game’. This helps your child learn important skills and ways of relating to others. Alcohol and other drugs
You might worry about how your child will manage when peers are experimenting with alcohol and other drugs. But it’s not just friends who influence teenagers in this area – you also have an influence. You can try to discourage your child from trying alcohol by talking with your child about alcohol and other drugs, the effects they have and the risks involved. The way you use alcohol and other drugs also influences your child’s attitudes and behaviour, so you can be a role model for safe habits. For example, think about the different messages you might send by drinking occasionally and in moderation, compared with drinking daily and heavily. Healthy lifestyle
You can model healthy food choices and healthy physical activity for your child by eating well and exercising regularly yourself. You could involve your child – for example by swimming together, or going for a family walk. You can also try to avoid making negative comments about your body – and other people’s too. This sends important messages to your child about body image and acceptance. Attitude to learning
If you make education seem interesting and enjoyable, your child is more likely to have a positive attitude to school and learning. For example, you could learn a language or a craft like knitting or painting, or you could read about an unfamiliar topic. And why not spend some time reading for pleasure? It’s a great way to encourage your child to pick up a book. Technology use
Your own technology use sends powerful messages to your child about the place technology has in your family’s life. For example, always walking around with your phone sends your child the message that your phone is very important to you. But scrolling through social media and then going for a family walk, and not using your phone unless it’s for an emergency, sends the message that social media is just one option for entertaining yourself and relaxing. by Stuart Duff, Partner and Head of Development Everyone wants to be a good role model. Whether it’s to your children, employees or even strangers, we all want to make a good impression on the people around us. But being a role model means something different to everyone. Think about some of the most popular role models of modern – and indeed previous – times. Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson and more recently, Malala Yousafzai spring to mind. They have very different qualities, but they’re all seen as role models by one person or another. So, what really makes a role model? Well, they’re the activists that we all look up to. Whether they stand up for a moral argument that they believe in or have built something from scratch, they’re all inspirational. Most likely, your role models will have achieved something that you dream of achieving yourself. They might be averagely intelligent, talkative, considerate and task focused – all that social psychology research suggests they should be as a role model.

Why are role models important?

From an early age, humans learn through observation. We watch others and copy their behaviour, whether that produces a positive or negative outcome. Role models can influence the way in which their observers think and act in either a personal or working environment. More often than not, they inspire those who watch them to take on challenges and achieve great things. It’s vital that a role model’s behaviour exemplifies the values that they hold, as their observer will build goals in their mind that they then refer to when faced with making a decision. This is known as a ‘cognitive representation’.

The core features of a role model

Whilst role models might mean something different to every individual, there are a few shared qualities that should be associated with the term. These are success, integrity, quality, visibility and positive behaviour. But what do each of these qualities really mean? Success is something that allows us to gauge how effective a role model is. When you think of people that you admire, most of them have either achieved something you value or have a capability you desire. Their ownership of these qualities makes them successful in your eyes. So, it’s important to understand what success means to you, and identify an achievable aim. Whatever your end goal though, make sure that you consider the impact your goals will have on others. Having integrity as a role model, or ensuring that you live out certain values, is vital. This might mean adhering to company values in a work setting, or even just behaving in line with your own personal values. Hard work, for example, is a value that both organisations and individuals will hold. For a role model to be effective, they must demonstrate that they’re putting in the effort in order to reap the rewards of success. Being able to focus on and produce high quality outcomes is a valuable skill, and that’s why it’s such an important trait for a role model to have. We all admire high quality things, whether that is a top-of-the-range car, or a piece of art. Say, for example, that you’re leading on a new project at work. To make sure that the work the team produces is of a really high quality, you’d need to ensure that everyone clearly understands your expectations. Pointing out previous examples, or showing the team how you personally will work to achieve these results, might help others achieve those high standards. Maintaining a visible profile as a role model is important, as it allows others to see how you work and enables them to learn from your actions. Being transparent isn’t all about status and maintaining a profile, but is a way of helping others understand what good behaviour is and how they should conduct themselves. It allows people to better understand how they can achieve their concept of success. Finally, role models aren’t all positive, but they are all highly likely to display some sort of positive behaviour. That’s because their behaviours are linked with some kind of success or value. Observers make an association between the behaviour and the role model’s success, regardless of its outcome.

Common misconceptions about role models

There are a huge number of misconceptions about what role models are and how they function. One common misconception is that all role models need to be charismatic. Whilst it’s certainly true that a charismatic person could inspire others with their energy, mood and confidence, charisma isn’t the be all and end all of a role model. The most important thing is focusing on what you’re trying to embody. So, you really don’t need to be charismatic to be an effective role model. Another misconception is that role models have to be the most successful people in society. Granted, success is important, but everyone’s idea of success is different. Your view of success depends completely on your goals and personal situation. Often, it is not the outcome of someone’s actions that makes them a role model, but the steps that they take to get there. Many people don’t believe that they’re capable of becoming a role model. They might not consider themselves as ‘role model material’. However, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be considered one. Why not take a step back and think about what you’re doing, how you’re doing it and what you’ve achieved? When you start to look at yourself from afar, it becomes easier to find positive aspects and work out what you embody. These are the qualities that someone else would look up to.

How to become a more effective role model

If you think that you can be a positive role model for others, but aren’t quite sure where to start, it’s worth thinking about areas in which you can improve and focusing on personal development. First, try to gather feedback on your current performance. Others around you will be able to offer insight that you’re unable to see yourself, so don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from them. You may even find it useful to have a record of your current performance as a benchmark. Second, to become an effective role model, you need to have your own positive role models to look up to. Consider who the role models are in your life and identify the attributes they possess that you admire or would like to emulate. This may seem daunting if you feel there’s a big difference between yourself and your role models, but this is just the start of your development. Finally, once you’ve established your goals and preferences, put together a personal, focused development plan that will help you improve your effectiveness over time. Then, look for opportunities to practise. Whether you’re at work or at home, try to practise the behaviour you want to exhibit as a role model or improve your profile. Becoming an effective role model isn’t easy, but it is certainly achievable. Many of us don’t think we have the qualities we need to become a role model, but the most important thing to remember is that success means something different to everyone.


Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *