I remember my 7th grade teacher. His name was Mr. Crow. True to his name, he was a tough old bird!
But I don’t remember him because he was nasty or mean. Nor was he overly sweet and buddy-buddy. We didn’t talk negatively behind his back; in fact, we rarely spoke about him at all. Even the pranksters in the school didn’t bother Mr. Crow.
And that’s because everyone liked him. Why? Because he treated everyone the same – fair but firm.
With Mr. Crow, you knew where you stood, what was expected of you and what the consequences of non-performance would be. He was engaging and inspiring because his behavior with everyone was consistent and kind. No surprises, no outbursts, no aggression, no weakness.
Action – Being absolutely fair and consistent with everyone creates communication safety. And no doubt you realize how vital that is in an office environment.