Playing favorites shows a lack of leadership

Why do some people get "special privileges" in the workplace while others don't?

One person gets longer breaks or lunches. Another is held to the letter of the law, the clock being watched.

Some have to document, document, document. Still others don't.

One is reprimanded for the same behavior another co-worker or two are allowed to do.

The boss and his or her favorites waste hours shooting the bull. Essentially, time wasters.

Some are recognized for completed assignments with gifts, such as candy, calendars and other knickknacks. Others are ignored.

Favorites are promoted while others wonder when the day will come that they'll be noticed, recognized or even acknowledged. (Should a boss or leader have favorites anyway? We'll save that topic for another column.)

These are just a few of the injustices that occur every day in workplaces. Fox News commentator Brit Hume said, "Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised."

When behaviors like the ones mentioned are allowed, one only has to look at the leadership — or lack thereof. It's been said leaders empower and bosses micro-manage. Some do both. They essentially serve two masters.

Which one are you?

If you are allowing "special privileges" to some and not others, it's not too late to change. But remember, according to Hume, this new skill must be developed and exercised.

Best practice on those you lead, or those you used to micro-manage, even if they whisper about your newfound changes.

See, you won't be able to blame them since you likely created that behavior, let alone the culture they are working in.

Just remember that change is good.

It just may not happen overnight.

Now where were that candy bar and calendar?

Cynthia Kimball Humphreys, a professional speaker and trainer, writes a column for weeklies' in southern Utah and is a southern Utah correspondent for Deseret News. She can be reached at kimball@every1counts.net. Her column, "Every1Counts," appears on deseretnews.com bimonthly.