ma always did like you best...

GRATEFUL GIRL'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, rocky road ... ice cream flavors are a perfectly acceptable platform for choosing favorites.

The same holds true for your preferred fragrance or comfort food or outfit. You can even like a mug or pair of boots or cap or brand of soda  better than any others, if you wish. People, on the other hand, well that's a horse of a different color.

Any parent, leader, mentor, coach, teacher or advisor with a high Emotional Intelligence quotient understands that playing favorites is a game in which everyone loses.

It can alienate the "chosen" person from his/her siblings, colleagues, teammates, classmates, crew and/or friends; causing resentment, envy and worst of all, disengagement, detachment and division.

Showing nepotism or partiality to one member of a team over the others sends a dangerous message all of them, particularly if it's not based on performance, accomplishments or skill. The bottom line is: every member of your team has value, worth and contributes something toward the collective good or else you aren't doing your job as their leader. Match individuals to their area of highest ability, interest and passion and empower them to reach and exceed their goals. Then watch the magic happen.

Look, humans have feelings. Heads of families, companies, classes, teams, etc. are no exceptions to that rule. Yes, from time to time, each of us feels a pull toward certain individuals over others; it happens. What separates a strong authority figure/manager from a weak one is the ability to remain objective and fair in all circumstances ... and to bolster every member of the team, period.

And if you do happen to prefer the black pony to the palomino horse ... please just smile, keep it to yourself and feed, groom and care for them both equally. 

Sirach 35 - For the LORD is one who always repays, and he will give back to you sevenfold. But offer no bribes, these he does not accept! Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion. For he is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Mark 10 - "...But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."