By Ken Chapman Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc. Almost inevitably, one or more of the people who report to you will act in an unacceptable way. An hourly worker is repeatedly late; a service rep blows up at a customer; a manager makes an inappropriate comment to a report. Occasionally, such actions are so egregious that the offending employee must be summarily terminated. Far more often, though, the faulty behavior doesn’t call for such an extreme step, but it is up to the leader to take appropriate corrective action. The first thing to be clear about here is what you want to achieve. Should the goal of company disciplinary policies be to punish, to mete out some form of justice? Or instead should it be to propel employees toward better behavior? Consider that the words “discipline” and “disciple” share an etymological root focused on teaching or molding. As opposed to…

Leaders know that when it comes to food for thought some people are on a hunger strike. The best leaders digest the new idea with the same objective palate with which they critique the old and familiar. ─ Ken Chapman, Ph.D

Leaders do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether they feel like it or not. They are not so much men and women of steel as they are people others can count on. No hedging. No excuses. No complaints. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

People can be illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Not everyone reaches for the high end of human behavior. Leaders help people reach for the high ground anyway. ─Ken Chapman─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Randy Pausch stated “Honesty is not only morally right, it’s also highly efficient.” Leaders know that a safe, open environment allows employees to bring you bad news quickly. Honesty can prevent a molehill from becoming a mountain. ─ Whitney Tate─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Leaders trust themselves. They know what they know; and, they know what they don’t know. They are honest with themselves about both. They know when to leverage their knowledge and experience. And, they know when to leverage the knowledge and experience of others. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Leaders know obsessing over a mistake is nothing more than an argument with the past. Leaders do not live in the past. They argue for and work for a better future. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Carly Fiorina, the first female to assume leadership of a Fortune 100 Company, notes personal accountability as important to her success. She quickly became an influential leader due to her belief that we are “Always on Stage.” Fiorina leads by example. ─ Christy Beem ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Leaders are not afraid of praise. They let others know what they are doing well. Leaders know that another’s success is also a success for them. ─ Whitney Tate

The Latin phrase age quod agis loosely translates, “Work hard at what you do well.” We’ve all been told at some time or another we should work on our opportunities for improvement. While it’s important to minimize behaviors which may not serve us well, leaders know their strengths and work to enhance them. The great philosopher Dolly Parton put it another way: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” ─ Deb Miller ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.