Truth 41. What You Do Overpowers What You Say

It’s not what you say, it’s what you do! Actions do speak louder than words.

Actions do speak louder than words.

When faced with inconsistencies between words and actions, people tend to give greater credence to actions. It’s behavior that counts!

The implication of this for managers is: You’re a role model. Employees will imitate your behavior and attitudes. They watch what their boss does and then imitate or adapt accordingly. This doesn’t mean, however, that words fall on deaf ears. Words can influence others. But when words and actions diverge, people focus most on what they see in terms of behavior.

To illustrate, consider your attitude toward employees and your ethical behavior. Many a manager ...

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