Always let co-workers finish their thoughts, then talk. Often their thoughts are incorrect. Or incomplete. Or incoherent. Often you’ll have something more important to say. Or more accurate. Or more amusing. Just wait your fucking turn. The most respected managers and executives usually follow this rule. It makes everyone think they are paying attention and…
Category: Communication
Rule 14: A Pro values trust over honesty
Lot’s of people say that “honesty” is the key to a good relationship. This is false. You introduce me to a guy who is “honest” in his relationship, and I’ll introduce you to his crying, insecure wife. And vice versa – I don’t want my wife to tell me how she would love to bang my…
Rule 13: A Pro keeps their friends close and their enemies off their projects
A Pro would rather fight and fail with people they respect than succeed with people they don’t. If only life was that simple. I have plenty of strategies to keep good people with you and bad people away… but sooner or later you’ll need to make the best of a bad situation. This is when…
Rule 12: A Pro doesn’t talk to Human Resources
“Human Resources” Please reflect on that term for a moment. I’m willing to bet $1000 dollars you don’t think of yourself as a resource who happens to be human. You know, as compared to non-human resources like computers, electricity, staplers… In fact, I bet another $1000 that if I asked the next person I see…
Rule 11: If a Pro has to wonder “Should I say this?” the answer is obviously “No”
And now for the dumbest sentence I’ve typed yet: Conversations only have two actions – Listening and Speaking. Of the two, listening is 0% risky. Depending on the conversation topic, speaking can range from 1% to 100% risky. So if you have to err to one side or the other, always err to listening. Speaking…