Gossip is saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his face, and flattery is saying to his face what you would never say behind his back. There is nothing that causes more harm than words–thoughtless, inappropriate words. The wrong words can destroy the relationships you have with your coworkers and destroy the business you have with …
The Relationship Recipe
If you think relationships are a lot of work, try doing everything all by yourself. Relationships are difficult — because people are strange. They want a place in the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the middle of the road. Tell people there are 300 billion stars, and they’ll believe you. But tell them that a …
It's Better To Look Stupid Than To Be Stupid
Asking stupid questions is always better than correcting stupid mistakes. I spent fifteen years as a university professor, and I’ve spent the last fifteen years as a professional speaker in several hundred organizations. One thing I’ve noticed in both environments is people’s reluctance to ask questions. No one wants to give the impression of not knowing something. That’s sad, but …
7 Steps to Handling Conflict with Difficult People
If it’s painful for you to criticize someone, you’re safe in doing so. If you take pleasure in it, hold your tongue. No one likes to work with a difficult person. In fact, when difficult people are out of the office with a cold, everyone back at work is praying they get pneumonia. Just kidding, but you get the point. …