No Precedent for New Precedent

The fast-food manager who steps over garbage and doesn't pick it up sets a new cleanliness precedent.

The manager who punches in 5-10 minutes late each day sets a new punctuality precedent.

The Safety Supervisor who exceeds the speed limit in the company truck sets a new safety compliance precedent.

The parent who allows jumping on the furniture one time sets a new rules precedent.

The person who gets behind the wheel with a few beers under their belt or takes a toke now and then sets a new responsibility precedent with their children.

The employee who gossips about other employees sets a new office-gossip precedent.

The supervisor who stands around talking just to be social and impeding an employee's work sets a new productivity precedent.

The employee who barges in on another employee without permission sets a new respecting co-workers precedent.

There is a simple common-sense rule to live by when it comes to setting precedents: lead by example. Your position in life affords you no exemptions: whether your a boss, a parent or an employee. The same rules apply to everyone in an organization or in a household. There's no special treatment because you're the boss. Get over yourself. If you want everyone in your workplace to play by the same rules then there can be no exemptions or special status.

Memos and policies are lip-service. It's the attitude of your actions that matter most.