Here’s a simple way to check whether you are near the top or the bottom of the corporate ladder. Ask six honest serving-men.

That’s right, the ones Rudyard Kipling called What, Why, When, How, Where and Who.

• If you tend to think in terms of What and When, then you are near the bottom of the hierarchy, because you are focusing on tasks and actions.
• If you are more inclined to think in terms of Why and Who, then you are nearer the top, because you are focusing on purpose and people.

What about How?

• At lower levels How helps you ensure that tasks are performed well.
• At higher levels, How helps you ensure that people perform well.

And what about honest serving-man Where?

Well, if you serve honestly, then your impact on people or tasks will not be determined by where you are on the corporate ladder.

Welcome to my side of the nonsense divide.