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MasterClass
masterclass.com › articles › lead-from-the-front-explained
Lead From the Front: Pros and Cons of the Leadership Style - 2025 - MasterClass
Business leaders who adopt this style choose to connect with team members, customers, and stakeholders on the “front line” of the operation. Those who lead from behind often consider themselves more effective leaders when they take a long view of an organization’s needs.
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Quora
quora.com › The-man-who-stands-in-front-does-not-lead-but-directs-Leadership-comes-from-the-back-to-ensure-that-no-one-is-left-behind-How-true
The man who stands in front does not lead but directs. Leadership comes from the back to ensure that no one is left behind. How true? - Quora
Answer (1 of 8): Front and Back are meaningless to a true leader. You need to steer the front so it remains on the correct path to your vision, while making sure those that want to follow are motivated to keep up and not be left behind. But you can’t make everyone follow you; you will have ...
Discussions

Should a leader lead from the front?

🌐 r/Leadership
11
March 30, 2024
You lead from where it’s most effective for your team to achieve your goals. Front Middle Back Top Bottom Right Side Left Side. More on reddit.com

How much and how are leaders expected to lead from the front?

🌐 r/WarCollege
5
July 16, 2023
You lead from where you are most effective. Leading from the front is applicable in: a. Metaphorically, being present and capable. If you're at every PT session, running as fast as your soldiers or faster, you're that exemplar leader to follow. b. To build a bias. Given equal options, being closer to the front usually is still most rapid/most effective communications. That said, if my Company is breaching a minefield, I have a better view and understanding of what's happening from the support by fire position, and good sightlines for artillery spotting than grinding through the lane in the mineplow equipped tank. Commander in the "middle" is often done with formations just to be best able to see, and understand what's happening with the force. More on reddit.com

Leading from the front

🌐 r/Leadership
5
February 20, 2022

I think it would be worthwhile for you to understand all three methods vs just the one you asked about. You can lead from the front, the middle or the rear. The style that you choose really depends on your responsibility level and the needs of the role.

Leading from the front is a lot of hands on work, performing the same tasks you expect your team to do on a day to day, really being in the weeds.

Mobilizing teams is a lot more general and really that just boils down to good leadership. Sharing a vision, providing tools and moving everyone toward the common goal.

Hard to say with the limited context however if your getting that feedback I would focus on some key areas you can lean in on and get in the weeds to help, especially for your new Supervisors.

As far as being able to balance this with your management duties, that is a decision you'll have to make. If you truly feel its untenable, I'd look for something else. I'd think about the big picture though and if you did lean in and get those supervisors really chugging, that investment now would pay off later as your team would be more self-sufficient.

Good luck to you!

More on reddit.com

"To lead the people, walk behind them." --Lao Tzu

🌐 r/quotes
19
November 1, 2013
Welcome to r/Quotes · Create your account and connect with a world of communities More on reddit.com
Videos
October 18, 2019
874
🌐 YouTube Fisher College of Business Leading from the Front - YouTube
June 25, 2018
1.93K
January 17, 2023
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LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › what-does-mean-lead-from-front-shannon-barrett
What does it mean to “Lead from the front”?
February 5, 2021 - Effective leaders will engage at all levels of the process, but will remain somewhat disengaged from the details. They empower the people who do the work to make decisions about the work. These leaders will let the front line workers plan the tactical details and execute the process.
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Speak to Lead!
speaktolead.co.uk › home › blog › why leaders should lead from the front
Why leaders should lead from the front - Speak to Lead!
May 14, 2021 - Show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them.Definition of to lead according to OED. I often travel by train, and when I was younger, I was lucky to experience my daily train commute to University from a different perspective.
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Zestfor
zestfor.com › home › thought leadership › leadership & management › leading from the front vs leading from behind: which leadership style works best?
Leading from the Front or Behind: Which Style Works Best? | Zestfor
June 16, 2025 - Leading from the front involves taking a visible, active role and personally demonstrating tasks, whilst leading from behind means establishing direction and then empowering teams to achieve objectives independently.
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About Leaders
aboutleaders.com › leading-the-way-or-leadership-from-behind
Leading the Way or Leadership from Behind? | About Leaders
December 24, 2023 - Leading from the front or by example simply means we demonstrate our leadership by going first.
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Pure Blue Ocean
pureblueocean.com › my-product › lead-from-the-front-or-lead-from-behind
Pure Blue Ocean | Lead from the front, or lead from behind?
We often hear that leaders should ... from the back - and let others believe they are in front” Leading from the front means we are demonstrating our leadership by going first....
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Leadershipbridge
leadershipbridge.institute › home › blog › leading from the front: the hallmark of true leadership
Leading from the front: The Hallmark of True Leadership - Leadership Bridge Institute
December 20, 2024 - Leading from the front is an essential leadership principle where leaders exemplify behaviors that inspire their teams. This approach builds trust, sets standards, empowers individuals, and earns respect through visible engagement and accountability. Effective leaders communicate clearly, take ...
Find elsewhere
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Quora
quora.com › What-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-leading-from-the-front-versus-leading-from-the-back
What are the pros and cons of leading from the front versus leading from the back? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): This is a false dichotomy. There are any umber of ways to lead. The notion of “leading from the front” as it was explained to me was that you start doing what everyone should be doing, and people will pick up the activity and “follow” you.
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Medium
johnmaeda.medium.com › where-should-you-lead-from-the-front-the-back-or-the-side-answer-a-fourth-option-27002043782a
Where should you lead from? The front? The back? Or the side? Answer: A Fourth Option | by John Maeda | Medium
August 2, 2022 - Where should you lead from? The front? The back? Or the side? Answer: A Fourth Option When leading where your teams are going, you also need to know whether they’re following. —A Fourth Option …
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Navy Reserve
navyreserve.navy.mil › News › Article-View-News › Article › 3724696 › leading-from-the-front
Leading From the Front
March 29, 2024 - In the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility, two hard-charging command master chiefs recently worked side-by-side leading the way from the deck plates of two Forward Deployed Naval Forces
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bab.la
en.bab.la › dictionary › english › lead-from-the-front
LEAD FROM THE FRONT - Definition in English - bab.la
Define 'LEAD FROM THE FRONT'. See more meanings of 'LEAD FROM THE FRONT' with examples.
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TheFreeDictionary.com
idioms.thefreedictionary.com › lead+from+the+front
Lead from the front - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
Definition of lead from the front in the Idioms Dictionary. lead from the front phrase. What does lead from the front expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.
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Times of India
timesofindia.indiatimes.com › news › voices › lifestyle › the art of leading from the front
The Art of Leading from the Front
February 27, 2023 - They lead not by words but by their actions and examples. This shows other team members that leading is a way of life and should be taken seriously. Leading from the front means leading through your actions, leading with integrity, accountability, innovation, and being true to yourself.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/leadership › should a leader lead from the front?
r/Leadership on Reddit: Should a leader lead from the front?

You lead from where it’s most effective for your team to achieve your goals. Front Middle Back Top Bottom Right Side Left Side.

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Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org › wiki › lead_from_the_front
lead from the front - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
lead from the front (third-person singular simple present leads from the front, present participle leading from the front, simple past and past participle led from the front)
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Stay SaaSy
staysaasy.com › management › 2025 › 04 › 20 › leading-from-the-front.html
Leading From The Front | Stay SaaSy
April 20, 2025 - To be that contagion, to lead from the front, the most important thing is that your leadership is predictable and consistent, and that you know where the front is. Most leaders think that the most important thing is that they are reachable if things get bad enough. While this is a worthy goal, it regularly and quickly falls apart. A leader says “if things get bad enough, call me, page me, I’ll come running”. And when the leader says that, they mean ...
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Whitemtn
whitemtn.com › blog › what it means to lead from the front
What It Means to Lead From the Front | White Mountain IT Services | NH | MA
March 19, 2024 - Defining ?Leading from the Front? Leading from the front is a leadership style where business owners actively participate in the day-to-day operations of their company, setting an example for their team members by taking charge and leading by action. This approach emphasizes the importance ...