On a recent flight to Dubai, I had an encounter that reminded me of the unseen impact leaders can have. As I was putting my bag in the overhead compartment, the gentleman next to me smiled. I assumed it was just a friendly gesture and smiled back.
Once seated, he turned and asked, “Aren’t you Mr. Chandrakanth?”
A little surprised, I replied, “Yes… but how do you know me?”
He introduced himself as Faisal Khan and reminded me that I had given him his very first job over a decade ago at our Mysore office. Today, he works with Mercedes in Dubai and is doing exceptionally well. He went on to express his gratitude for that first opportunity, which, as he put it, had set the course for his career.
As we talked, memories of those early days at the Mysore campus came flooding back…how building that centre had created opportunities for thousands of young people from the region, shaping not just careers, but lives.
Encounters like this aren’t isolated. I often run into people in public places who fondly recall their time working with me. Each of these moments reminds me that leadership is not only about driving results or building organizations, but also about the quiet, lasting influence we leave on people’s lives.
Over the years, I’ve often received unexpected messages from people I once worked with, sharing how my leadership left a mark on their journeys. On occasions like Teachers’ Day, Guru Purnima, or even random moments during the year, they’ve reached out with thoughtful notes of gratitude. What touches me most is that these gestures come without any expectation…they don’t need anything from me now. Their affection is genuine, and that makes it deeply meaningful.
In all my leadership development programs, I have emphasized the importance of role modelling. This incident reminded me of the same again. It is encounters like these that are simple, human, and unscripted that always stay with me. They remind me that as leaders, we are always on stage, whether we realize it or not. We aren’t just setting strategy or driving execution; we’re role models, shaping the behaviors and attitudes of those around us.
Why does role modelling matter in today’s world?
People tend to observe their leaders far more closely than we might think. What leaders say matters, and what they do matter even more. Every action, every choice a leader makes, and every response in difficult moments, sends a message to everyone they work with.
If leaders lead with arrogance, it will seep into the culture of the organisation. If a leader approaches their work with passion, that too becomes contagious. If people are treated with respect, it will create a ripple effect.
So, leadership is not only about goals, KPIs, and outcomes. It’s also about showing the way through behaviour that others can emulate.
How leaders shape culture without saying a word
I can often walk into any organization and sense the culture within the first half an hour. Starting from how you are greeted, the energy of the team, the way people speak to each other, their enthusiasm or sometimes hesitation well, all of it can be traced back to the culture that has been set right at the top.
Only a passionate leader can create passionate teams. If a leader is respectful, they can nurture respectful workplaces. On the other hand, if leaders are disconnected, that also seeps down.
In my own journey building and scaling businesses, I’ve seen that culture is not crafted through policies or posters on the wall, but it is crafted by what leaders consistently do.
Role modelling can foster trust, teamwork, and responsibility.
The lasting imprint on young leaders
For many people in their early careers, their first managers and leaders are the ones who leave the deepest impressions. These are the people who shape their ideas of what leadership looks like. Each one of us surely remember our first boss and our experience while working with them.
That’s why role modelling is especially important when working with young and emerging leaders. Consistency, integrity, and openness can help them build the right habits early on in their career. In the long run, these habits influence not just their individual success, but the organizations and teams they will each go on to lead.
In today’s virtual world, this does take an interesting twist and only time will tell how this whole new generation will rise to take on additional responsibilities.
Role modelling and leadership
The legacy of a leader, at the end of the day, is not only in the targets met or the awards won. It’s also in the people they inspired, the values they upheld, and the culture they helped build over time.
Leadership is therefore also about role modelling. And that’s the imprint that actually tends to last.
In conclusion
True leaders don’t just manage people; they inspire them to become better versions of themselves. Wherever you are in your leadership journey, remember that people are always watching, learning, and reflecting what they see. Give them something truly worth emulating. Because long after strategies fade and targets are forgotten, what endures is how leaders made people feel and the examples they set. That is the real power of role modelling.
