"ليس من العدل أن تطلب من الآخرين ما لست على استعداد لفعله بنفسك"

The heart of this quote is about fairness and leading by example. If you’re not ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, you can’t expect anyone else to do it either. It’s all about integrity and walking the talk.

Let’s set the stage a bit. Imagine Eleanor Roosevelt, the woman who lived and breathed this idea and is believed to have said this. She was a First Lady who didn’t just sit pretty; she was out there championing human rights and working tirelessly during some really tough times — the Great Depression, for instance, and then World War II. She wasn’t just telling people what to do from some ivory tower. She was right there in the trenches with them, showing by doing.

Think about a company CEO who’s always asking their employees to work overtime. Now, if this CEO never puts in those extra hours themselves, what do you think happens? Resentment builds. Morale drops. The employees are less motivated because they see the hypocrisy. But picture a different scenario — a CEO who stays late, pitches in on tough projects, and shows they’re part of the team. Those employees? They’re inspired. They see that their leader isn’t asking anything they wouldn’t do themselves, and they’re more likely to go the extra mile.

So, how can you apply this in your own life? Start small. If you’re a parent, don’t just tell your kids to read more. Pick up a book yourself, let them see you enjoying it. If you’re a team leader, don’t just delegate the hardest tasks. Take on a few of those challenging assignments yourself. And if you’re asking for honesty, be brutally honest about your own strengths and weaknesses.

Here’s a story to illustrate this: Imagine you’re part of a small startup. The team is tight-knit, everyone knows everyone. The deadline for a big project is looming, and the stress is palpable. The team leader, let’s call her Sarah, doesn’t just bark orders. She stays late, orders pizza for everyone, and works alongside her team. She’s in the trenches, debugging code, making client calls, whatever it takes. The team sees this, and they’re not just working hard because they have to. They’re working hard because they see Sarah working hard. They’re inspired by her dedication and fairness. She’s not asking for anything she’s not willing to give herself.

On a personal note, I once worked with a manager who embodied this quote. During a particularly hectic season, he was always the first in and the last out. He didn’t just tell us to push through; he showed us how. And you know what? It made us respect him more and want to do our best.

So next time you’re about to ask something of someone else, take a moment. Ask yourself if you’re willing to do it too. If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track. If not, maybe rethink the ask. It’s about fairness, respect, and leading by example. And in the end, people will follow someone who shows them the way, not just tells them where to go.