Your Team Will Echo Your Habits

Notes to Young Leaders | 31 October 2025

A note to young leaders.

An old sailor gave up smoking when his pet parrot developed a persistent cough.

He was worried that the thick pipe smoke that frequently filled his room had damaged the parrot’s health.

He arranged for a vet to urgently examine the bird.

After a detailed check-up, the vet concluded that the parrot did not show any signs of psittacosis or pneumonia.

It had merely been imitating the cough of its pipe-smoking owner.

A team always mirrors its leader.

If you don’t like what you’re seeing, take a look in the mirror.