Bravo Trailblaze for focusing us on one of the "tells" consultants notice when examining business health!

You wrote, "the only way to resolve the tragedy of...break-room microwave is for someone to take responsibility and influence others to change their behavior. This is no small task!...Someone...has to recognize the problem..."

Years ago I watched a mid-level employee pause as she entered work to use her scarf to gently and carefully rub down the brass door plate with my company's name. After the 3d or 4th time I witnessed that behavior I asked her if she always did that and why.  After one of those comical "did what?" "who me?" "I don't understand" exchanges, it turned out that she is one of those rare folks who don't need intellectually to identify a problem to behave in a manner that creates a culture of shared responsibility.  I am still sure she behaves that way in all walks of her life.

Consciously then...and unconsciously now, she's still influencing my behavior without ever confronting me , lecturing me, or even saying a word.

I remember my own father not for his words, but for how he lived his life, and Arun Gandhi once said his grandfather wanted us to, "be the change we want to see in the world."  I often forget that my daily actions influence others far more than my lofty speeches.

I'd write more, David, but my microwave needs cleaning.

Daniel W. Bennett
Sea Change Consulting