Do you struggle with staff not making deadlines? Do people arrive late for meetings? Are cell phones answered during serious conversations or discussions on critical matters? Do staff arrive for meetings prepared and with good contributions to make? Do you have breaches of confidentiality at the office?

If the answer to this is NO, then read no further! For those who aren’t so sure I’d suggest its time for a self audit. One of the requirements of labour law is fairness - some speak of a two way street - I prefer, Do unto others as you would want done unto you.

So the real questions I have for you are:

Do you meet your own deadlines? Are you late for meetings? Do you regard your calls as more important than the issue of the person meeting with you? How much effort do you make in having the correct information and your thoughts in order when going into a meeting? Who are you sharing confidential matters with? If you have an open-plan office, to what extent do you take confidential calls in closed boardrooms, or away from the office?

I often see major disparities in the way management handle themselves, yet expect a different set of rules to apply to their staff.

Management need to set the example, be accountable, look to constantly “up their game”, improve their own standards, so that others want to follow them.

Do you provide the example others want to follow?