In a controversial 1993 ad, then NBA All-Star (and now Hall of Famer) Charles Barkley boldly declared, “I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model.”
Regardless of Barkley’s intentions, the ad struck a chord. The media went wild. Many parents were outraged by his comments.
Shortly after the ad first ran, another NBA All-Star at the time (and also now a Hall of Famer), Karl “The Mailman” Malone, wrote a column for Sports Illustrated that was directed at Charles’ comments. As he wrote, “Charles, you can deny being a role model all you want, but I don’t think it’s your decision to make. We don’t choose to be role models, we are chosen. Our only choice is whether to be a good role model or a bad one.”
Malone’s statement applies to each of us, not only celebrities. We are all role models, especially as more of life is public and displayed online. Your behavior influences your clients, colleagues, friends, and family – in good or bad ways. This is even more relevant for advisors who hold leadership roles and who are parents.
As an advisor, you have a powerful platform to lead by example. The most powerful kind of motivation comes from wanting to be a positive role model for others. I refer to this as Role Model Motivation. When your purpose is not only about you but also about the people around you, you do not need willpower to stay on track for achieving changes or goals.
The desire to be a positive role model has come up repeatedly during my research and interviews with high performers, including an interview with Hoby Darling, a Board Member/Advisor for multiple organizations and the former Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Liminal Collective, a high-performance advisory company.
“I believe a big part of my job is to inspire other people to be great both in their personal and professional lives,” he says. “As a leader, there are no bad days. Everyone is looking at you. You set the tone. I’ve always thought that I’m going to be an example first.”
Laurie Coe, Managing Director, Organization Consulting, at The Energy Project, a boutique consulting firm, says “We tell leaders, ‘You are the Chief Energy Officer.’ You have a disproportionate impact on the energy of everyone around you because everyone is watching you. When you take care of yourself and manage your energy, you show people that this is important and give your employees permission to do the same. You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be mindful of it and start by taking responsibility for yourself.”
Take a moment and think about everyone that you influence, especially the people who matter most to you. What kind of example do you want to set for them with your attitude and your behavior at work and outside of work?
A Longer Advisor serves as a cautionary tale for how not to work and live. A Stronger Advisor serves as a role model for how to thrive at work and in life.
References
- “Nike Air Commercial Charles Barkley, DaniBoxx, posted March 9, 2007, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzdAZ3TjCA.
- Karl Malone, “One Role Model to Another,” Sports Illustrated, June 14, 1993, https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/06/14/one-role-model-to-another-whether-he-likes-it-or-not-charles-barkley-sets-an-example-that-many-will-follow.
- Hoby Darling, Interview with Pete Leibman, 2017.
- Laurie Coe, Interview with Pete Leibman, 2017.
About the Author
Pete Leibman helps ambitious professionals build the energy, focus, and resilience to sustain high performance. He delivers keynotes, workshops, and webinars for leading consulting firms, law firms, financial services firms, and professional associations. Pete is the author of three books and more than 300 articles on sustainable high performance. His latest book is Stronger Advisor: High-Performance Habits for Consultants, Lawyers, and Advisors.
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