Your kids hear what you say, but remember what you do. This was sober advice given to me as a young parent and has proven to be true. Maybe a bit of what I said stuck, but the overwhelming ratio of remembered lessons for my kids favors my actions. This principle is consistent throughout the business world and any other leadership sphere. Kids are pretty good at calling us out on the inconsistency between what we say and what we do. Others may not be as vocal because a job promotion may be on the line, but our hypocrisy will be discussed at the water cooler or the lunch-line.

If the boss says that it is important to have a work-life balance to maintain employee health and spends the weekend sending out email and making calls, she will loose credibility with the staff. Eventually, the organizational morale starts a downward spiral and requires a targeted effort to recover what was lost. Retired Army General Norman Schwarzkopf stated "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." Your character is revealed through the consistency of your words and actions. Be intentional, the world is watching.

Going Further: Where is your example inconsistent with your words? What standards do you hold for others, but not yourself? What changes need to be made to bring words and actions into alignment? What were the results of making these hard changes previously?