Yes, Virginia, leaders have to be role models.

Yes, Sir Charles, leaders have to be role models.

Yes, Brandon Spikes and Jimmy Johns and the 3 Tennessee players and local politicians and the South Carolina Governor and so on and so on and so on...leaders have to be role models.

If you want to be a leader, you MUST accept the fact that you will be a role model - whether you want to or not.

Do you remember the big fuss that Sir Charles Barkley made with the statement of "I am not a role model"  and his accompanying commercial.  Click HERE to see the commercial on YouTube.

With all due respect to Charles - if we don't take on the responsibility of role models, then who will.

I saw a GAP commercial last night (click HERE to see the commercial) showing their new holiday line of clothes.  It was not the dancing and the clothes that got under my skin.  It was the words to their Christmas song and jingle.

"You 86 the rules...you do what just feels right...I mean do whatever you want-a-kah and to all a cheery night."

Maybe I am reading too much into this, but why are they telling everyone to not follow rules and do what just feels right?

Sure - Great idea - that's how we got into the societal mess that we are currently in...

Your business and your location and your department are craving ethical leadership, and your employees are desperately looking for ROLE MODELS.  There are so few of them out there.

If you are reading this blog, chances are you are already a leader.  Now go out there and be a role model for your employees.

Unless, of course, it doesn't feel right...

Then just do whatever you want...