The Law of the Picture: People do what people see. Great leaders always seem to embody two seemingly disparate qualities. They are both highly visionary and highly practical. The leader’s effective modeling of the vision makes the picture come alive. Followers may doubt what their leaders say, but they usually believe what they do.

The only excuse that comes to mind when I think of how anyone could not think of an example of how true this is would be if you were born blind. We are born and we learn by doing, by witnessing our mentors or others. As we mature, most of naturally begin to fulfill the same role as mentor to others. Even if we become disasters in life, the purpose of our existence may very well be to serve as warnings to others, and even that servers a meaningful purpose.

In my experience leading people and being led by others at times, I know that the pointing of fingers by leadership only serves negative purposes and provokes the pointing of middle fingers by those who would be lead.

Leaders tell but never teach until they practice what they preach. – Featherstone