People don’t follow slogans. They follow behavior.

I recently received some kind feedback after serving as J-Staff Manager for our college-age volunteers at HOBY WLC in July. I hesitated to share this because I don’t want it to sound self-congratulatory, but it points to something worth naming about leadership behavior.

Two lines stood out: “he encouraged us to take initiative… and treated us like adults,” and “we had set such a high bar, we’d forgotten to create space for silly moments… he created those moments.” Those comments capture the balance I try to model: high standards and support, ownership and care, intensity and room to breathe.

On day one I told the team I would treat them like adults and expected them to own delegation and decisions. My job was to remove blockers, keep the bar high and clear, and be present. Midweek we also saw the cost of running constantly at a high level. Energy and joy were dipping. We took ten minutes, grabbed Slurpees, and came back as an energized team again. After that, contributions were sharper and the room felt lighter. Several notes mentioned feeling seen, heard, and trusted. That was the point.

In Kouzes and Posner’s The Leadership Challenge, the practice is Model the Way. People do not remember the slogan; they remember what you choose in the moment. Treat people like adults and they act like owners. Hold a clear standard and it becomes shared, not enforced. Make space for humanity and fun and the work gets better, not worse.

When you model it, others mirror it.

If you lead a team, pick one behavior you will model in public this week. Say it out loud, do it where people can see it, and let the room feel the difference.

💬 What’s one specific behavior you’ll model so your team sees the standard in action?