Why Examples Matter

Teaching by example, or "modeling" in educational psychology, is a powerful instructional strategy where course content demonstrates a behavior, skill, or concept so students can observe and emulate it. This approach is based on the premise that learners acquire knowledge more effectively by observing and imitating rather than solely through theoretical instruction. The vital aspects of teaching by example.

Teaching by example involves leaders, managers, coworkers, and course content developers demonstrating the explicit behaviors, practices, and values they expect from their team members. This approach can significantly influence workplace culture, employee behavior, and effectiveness. Ways of teaching by example:

Demonstrating desired behaviors: Leaders and managers set the tone for the workplace based on their behavior. They inspire team members to emulate these behaviors by exemplifying their integrity, dedication, and professionalism.

Visible Leadership: Engaging in hands-on work and not just delegating tasks shows a willingness to be involved and an understanding of the challenges faced by the team. This form of leadership boosts morale and fosters respect.

Practical skill demonstration: In areas such as sales, customer service problem resolution, or technical skills, demonstrating these skills in a real-world setting is an effective way for employees to learn desired outcomes in challenging situations. For instance, an elearning course might demonstrate how employees successfully manage unconscious bias.

The following training helps employees deal with customer biases and provides realistic situations where employees encounter bias in customer interactions. Click on the image to the unconscious bias training.

Mentoring and modeling: Experienced employees can mentor newer team members, providing practical examples of navigating various workplace situations and tasks. Those employees who consistently align with the organization's values and ethics serve as living examples of the organization's principles.

Continuous learning: Teams open to learning and self-improvement inspire everyone to engage in continuous personal and professional development.

In summary, "teaching by example" embodies the practices, attitudes, and behaviors that organizations value. This approach effectively shapes workplace culture, enhances employee engagement, and drives organizational success in a powerful and enduring way.