This past weekend, I had the experience of attending a reception at a private Atlanta Country Club. As is typical, two sets of guests were at the reception, bride’s family and friends who are club members and grooms family and friends who traveled in from out of town. I was a member of the group that traveled in. The wedding families went all out to honor their children and entertain their guests. The entire weekend was splendid – most of it anyway.

Shortly after the church service, guests arrived at the reception hall; situated themselves in chosen proximity to the band and proceeded to the bar. Service was good, the bartender was alert and service oriented, he was masterful at listening to orders and delivering drinks quickly. He was a magician!

The line however did not move.

You see, the two men in front of me were Club Members, and it was important for them to let everyone know. One of these “gentlemen” actually took it upon himself to take and fulfill the orders of people standing in the rear of the line and the orders for members walking by.

Personally, I believe his behavior to be rude and boorish. He did not well represent the Club or the bride’s family. Nor did he demonstrate gentlemanly behavior. I actually told him so. He didn’t get it, so I now add stupid to my descriptors of him as rude and boorish.

As a behavior scientist, I believe human behavior is quite simple. This man’s behavior is really quite predictable – he is in a crowd, he has serious ego and identity gaps, he questions his own belongingness and sense of community, he thinks he has a chance to be a big shot – so why no, isn’t he entitled? (I bet he drives in the left lane.)

His behavior is actually not much different from the behaviors we are seeing in some of today’s workplaces. Headline making executives are overvaluing their contributions and rationalizing their rewards. Whosever rules they followed, whatever the game – they lost. Wake up executives, quit rationalizing. Fact is, you failed. You don’t get the trophy if you don’t win the game.

Your behavior rude and boorish. You did not well represent your organization. Nor are you demonstrating corporately responsible behavior. Your rationalizations support your ego disorders, your identity disorders and your excesses in sense of entitlement. (I also think taking the bonus for failing and flying the corporate jet is just plain stupid.)

I bet the AIG guys drive in the left lane.