Leave the Yoga Talk for the Studio

So here’s a thought: if your people are going to be working late, do not announce your own departure with “well, I’m going to try and catch my yoga class.” Your employees might have a yoga class too, a class that they are missing because they are working to meet a deadline set by you, so advertising that you are ducking out to make it to yours is not going to win you any points.

Yes, you may say that as a leader you are always working hard and missing other things, so you should try to take this opportunity when you can, but the counterargument is that that’s what you get paid a higher salary for. Your natural thought may be “I’ve earned this” but your team may be thinking “what a slacker,” and you don’t need that conflict.

Does that mean you shouldn’t go to yoga class? Of course not. But it means you should just slip out, not announce your departure, and certainly not say why you are leaving. You are under no obligation to say where you’re going, so just leave it blank, and let your employees assume you are heading to a meeting, or going home to take care of your kids, or off to meet the other Avengers at Tony Stark’s condo, or whatever. You don’t need to make it obvious that you are leaving for something fun while they are still at work.

Actually, you know what? Don’t talk when you’re in your yoga class, either. Save it for after class so you don’t disturb everyone around you.