When
Tiger Woods flamed out, my brother-in-law and I had a discussion about it. At some point when we were talking he said:
"But Tiger didn't ask to be a role model." My reply - "The first time someone says
to you 'I want to be just like you,' shame on you if it doesn't make you want
to clean up your act."
That
was a student who said that to me because they tend to be a bit more candid
than subordinates.
But I
also recall a group lunch where one of my staff discussed the fact that I had
taken only two cookies from the buffet table at the client meeting the day before. She thought that was an appropriate amount
and one of the reasons why I am thin.
But still. I don't recall ever
noticing what someone else took from a buffet table during a meeting.
And
that's the point. The people you
encounter are watching you more than you think they are. They are looking for leadership. They are looking for behavioral cues. They are looking to connect with you. All the more so if they are younger. The choice is not yours.
The
only choice you have is what kind of an example you want to set.
