It’s easy to believe the lies that we tell ourselves and others.  Some include:

• If I tell people ”I’m not a morning person,” they will excuse my bad attitude
• I’m going to be about 15 minutes late - Linda won’t mind
• Last week Mike sent his report late, so it’s okay if I send my project in late to him
• People don’t seem to mind working extra hours around here
• If I don’t refill the coffee pot, no one will care
• It’s okay if I leave the microwave messy – Tina likes to clean the break room

However, if you were on the receiving end of any of these false assumptions or behaviors, chances are that you would be quite annoyed.

As you work to influence and inspire, you cannot let yourself off the hook.  Do not excuse your poor behavior – be accountable to it.  You lead others best when you are considerate of other’s needs, strive for top performance, and mindful of the impact that you have on others.