When I first became a senior leader back in 2011, I assumed the role came with authority, influence, and trust.

Turns out, it came with something far more powerful—and far more fragile.

Responsibility for the example I was setting.

That truth really hit home when I worked with a brilliant principal dentist. He was clear on what he expected from his team. He was passionate about patient care. And yet—the culture was slipping.

Team members were turning up late. Huddles were skipped. People were coasting.

He was frustrated.

But then we spotted the domino effect:

He himself was often arriving right before clinic. Sometimes as patients waited in reception. There wasn’t time for calm. No prep. Just straight into the day.

He wasn’t doing anything wrong on purpose. But what he didn’t realise was that his behaviour—not his words—was setting the tone.

People mirror what they see, not what they’re told.

And leadership isn’t about a job title. It’s about showing up with consistency, reflection, and care.

That’s what I talk about in this week’s Great Boss Weekly episode:

• Why your team follows your example more than your instructions

• How to audit what you're really teaching through your habits

• What to do when you mess up (because we all do)

• And how to reset the culture by resetting yourself

• It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being honest.

Watch the full video on YouTube.

You don’t need to be someone else. You just need to lead on purpose.

Because no-one taught you to be a great boss. But you can learn to become one.