Cordier, Werner2026-02-242026-02-242025-12Cordier, W. 2025, 'Actions speak louder than words : are we role modelling what we hope for?', African Journal of Health Professions Education, vol. 17, no. 4, art. e4608, pp. 145. https://doi.org/10.7196/.2078-5127 (online)10.7196/http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108593Role modelling in academic settings represents a powerful force that shapes the next generation of scholars, professionals and citizens. When we, as role models, demonstrate factors such as intellectual curiosity, ethical rigour and respectful communication, we create a platform for further professional development of our students. The implicit messages we send through our actions – what constitutes professional behaviour, what it means to be an academic, and what drives scholarship – often speak louder than our explicit teachings. Care should therefore be taken to ensure these messages are translated appropriately. Role modelling is a powerful learning device that bridges formal academic content related to such matters and highlights its authenticity. It is particularly well-suited for behavioural learning, especially when we consider the vast array of contextual factors, such as sociodynamic interactions, that are not easy to translate in a text or lecture.en© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND).Role modelsScholarsProfessionalsCitizensEditorialArticle