Leadership: “’Walking the Walk’ Not Just ‘Talking the Talk’”

“You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?” is a very popular phrase, where I am from. However, capturing the ‘essence’ of this magical phrase can get a bit lost, in translation, at times. So allow me to illuminate with an alternative way of looking at this phrase.

It is one thing to say (or even believe) that you are going to do something. However, it is an entirely different thing to just— DO it! The Bible actually has a more eloquent way of putting it: “Faith without works is dead. (James 2: 14-26)”  This tells me that having faith, is NOT enough (pause for reaction)….I know…I KNOW!  That was the face that I made, when I caught this revelation, too!

It is one thing to say that you are a successful businessperson but have you done what it takes in order for those words to be true? For Example:

• · Are you the example that you require others to be?
•   Are you a person of your word?
• Are you seeking wise counsel…and are you listening to the wise counsel that you have been given?
• Are you making the effort to motivate your team?
• Have you made your team feel more connected with you, as their leader?
• Does your personal life positively affect your business life?
• Do you take the time to plan and research your current and future business ventures?

If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, I have good news for you: At some point, in time, the majority of us have made the exact same mistake…and we all have failed …MISERABLY!!!

We have all failed, to some degree, at being the Presidents, CEOs, Vice Presidents, CFOs, Business Associates, savvy Financial Investors, and Managers that we have imagined ourselves to be. This is mainly because our best imagination fails to take into account how tiresome research and planning is. Nor does it account for how overwhelming being a businessperson can be; Or how bruised our ego can be when our team is not as in love with our ideas as we are…. Our imagination and our expectations are perfect--we are not.

However, I have some GREAT news, for you (did you really think that I would leave you on such a sobering note?)! You can learn from this mistake and you can be better—that is, if you really want to. Not many of us have it all figured out, the first try-- or even the first one millionth try! The most important virtue of “walking the walk” is our ability to learn from our mistakes and to grow. And, in turn, we are able to assist others, where we once failed.

“Walking the Walk” is never easy and it’s NOT for the superficially-minded or for the fickle-hearted. However,  making the effort to apply our “walk” to our “talk” not only makes us better Presidents, CEOs, Vice Presidents, CFOs, Business Associates, savvy Financial Investors, and Managers…It makes us better people. And that is the type of “walk” that does not require any “talk”.