Often, managers discourage employees from leaning too heavily on role models because of imagined distraction. In reality, though, just as role models have always been an imperative part of our drive to do better in life, inspiring figures in business could actually improve company performance.

Whether you use real-life role models such as high-up SEOs that come in to give talks, or simply utilize examples of the best in the business during your meetings/delegations, considering the scope of success in this light could certainly bring it within easier reach. All in a language of examples that every employee can easily access. 

From new to old employees and beyond, you could certainly soon start to reap the rewards of looking at what the best have to offer and applying that to your own company culture. As proof, consider the following benefits possible from dropping a few big industry names and their stories moving forward. 

All-important industry insights

Industry-specific role models are a great way to give your employees a glimpse into the true depths of the field that they’re working in and also the levels of success possible. It’s tempting in this sense to turn to big hitters, e.g. Steve Jobs to inspire your tech team towards success, but it’s generally worth getting more specific with smaller scale industry-focused experts that your team can relate to.

For example, Alice Bentinck is an undeniable inspiration for women in tech, while someone like Jerome Clavel can pave the way for the best from your medical tech marketing team. Either way, make it relevant, relatable, and inspirational on a scale that doesn’t feel entirely out of reach.

Clear examples of behavior

Behaviors such as collaboration, professionalism, responsibility, and respect are imperative to company outputs. Unfortunately, expectations written on a forgotten piece of paper can still leave doors open to cattiness, lacking professionalism, and escalating issues across your company.

Role models that provide a ready-made example of workplace behavior and how it can impact results offer a far more real-world and followable example. That, in turn, increases the chances that employees will better understand responsible workplace behavior, and that they’ll feel encouraged to emulate it with their eyes on the end goal of success.

Motivating employees to improve

Perhaps most obviously, role models offer a fantastic way to encourage your employees to always work towards improvements, be they project innovations, new training courses, or simply increased dedication in terms of work hours and effort. All of this will likely be evident in those successful role models that you’re putting forward, providing first-hand examples of what happens when your team members get their heads down.

Pairing these role models with viable paths for improvement, e.g. in-house training, opportunities for promotion, etc., can especially prove effective for producing the best team and results that you could hope for, without your needing to chase up on everything yourself. 

Role models have always paved the way for change – could you benefit from making the most of that in your company culture?