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About this quote

What does it mean?
A leader avoids contempt by demonstrating they can do what they ask of others.
In plain terms
If a leader acts better than they preach, people respect them more.
What can you take from it?
Leading by example builds respect.

Where it applies

  • team management
  • military command
  • teaching

Putting it to work

  • model expected behavior
  • align words with actions

Questions to consider

  • Can you lead without doing?
  • How do you earn respect as a manager?

Another view

Sometimes leaders cannot perform the same tasks as their followers due to role constraints.

More from Xenophon

  1. The most delightful of all music, that of your own praises.

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  2. As to what happened next, it is possible to maintain that the hand of heaven was involved, and also possible to say that when men are desperate no one can stan…

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  3. It is only for those to employ force who possess strength without judgment; but the well advised will have recourse to other means. Besides, he who pretends to…

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