Corporate @ Keparat Lessons: Leadership Through Example

My Tyrant Boss was late again this morning. He came in at about 10 am. (Our office hours starts at 8.30am). He had no outside meetings this morning. He is simply late. He has been late for the past couple of weeks. The Little Bird (his PA) said Tyrant called this morning to say that he is coming in late. The Little Bird said "Takpe... (Dalam hati: Take your time! ... in a sarcastic tone!)....

If I or anybody else were to call or sms saying that we're coming in late, the Tyrant would ask us 1001 questions why and preach to us about the virtues of punctuality.... then he would preach to us again when we come into office... on the same thing....

The thing that ticks me is that the Tyrant is a person who does not tolerate people coming in late (not even for 5 minutes) but when it happens to him, its ok. Just fine and dandy.

The Tyrant is a also "leader" who would scold his managers like hell and ask them to justify why they are late. He would belittle them like small kids and start saying that since he can be early, why cant they. They should change their habits, implement them in 40 days, wake up and leave early from home, manage their personal affairs properly, work smart... bla bla bla....

The Tyrant would also make it a point to ask the Little Bird to call and check up on whether I am already in by the time he arrives or asks my colleague on the same. This practice on checking up on his managers seems to apply to others as well. Then whenever he meets us, he would give a lecture on the importance of being punctual, need to show good example, change habits, bla bla bla....

No doubt punctuality is a good virtue. I am also late sometimes. But for a person to preach virtues, he must walk his talk. He must come in early to preach to people about being punctual. Otherwise, he has lost the moral ground to preach and advise people. Its like a thief saying to others don't steal! His words will no longer have moral legitimacy. Masuk telinga kanan, keluar telinga kiri..... In the end, people will cast doubts on his leadership... being a leader is not easy, you gotta lead by good example.....