The other day we talked about making the call when an employee violates policy. Easy Call. We also talked about making the call when one does something wrong but doesn’t break policy or the law. Tougher call.

We need to look no further than the NHL to see another player being held accountable. This time the player didn’t break the law they were just stupid.

Sean Avery, of the Dallas Stars, was initially suspended indefinitely – it is now 6 games – by the NHL for making crude references about former girlfriends while talking to reporters. Avery is no slouch on the ice and the Stars will miss him but he didn’t break the law. Should the punishment be so severe?

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the punishment, saying Avery made inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game.”

“I completely support the league’s decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Stars owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.”

Evidently the Stars and the NHL do think the penalty should be so severe and I am OK with that. But let’s get off the ice and into your office.

You walk by the break room and four male employees are laughing loudly and then you hear one of them say, “And then she can put her yellow sweater back on and get back to looking pretty answering phones..” You also know that the receptionist, an attractive 23 year old women is wearing a yellow sweater this day. Now you have a chance to lead. You get to make the call.

Three calls are possible. First, you walk away and say nothing – bad call. Second, you walk in and become the fifth musketeer talking trash – really bad call. Third, you walk in and address the situation- right call. There are a number of things you can say to address the situation and not blow it out of proportion but that will only happen if you make the right call.

Remember, as a leader you have to make the call. You KNOW what the right call is. Make the call.

Go Stars!

This entry was posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at 6:35 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.