In this Issue: vol. 10, no. 8

Ten Things Not to Say

Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get

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Tips, Tools & Tactics

Welcome to our annual 'What NOT to Say' issue, where we have some fun noting the awful things said by managers and coworkers we have known. Send us your own stories...and let us know what else you'd like to read about -Diana

Ten Things Not to Say to Employees
If you want to stay off the Jerk List

A couple of years ago a CEO I was coaching told me with pride about his employee-praise practices:

"I don't need to praise a guy for doing his job well. If he's not doing his job well, he'll be gone. End of story!"

Thank you, Scott, for alerting me to one of the many horrific statements that demoralize employees, team members and managers every day. Over the years I've had great fun collecting these.

Here are just ten from my current list of What Not to Say:

1. "It's work. It's not supposed to be fun." Really? We're not supposed to be engaged or to find humor or pleasure in any of it?!

2. "If I put my hand in a bucket of water and pull it out, the water stays the same, right? That's how this organization will be without you!" I personally witnessed this one from a college president to his faculty at his first all-staff meeting. Go figure.

3. "I'll get back to you when I can." Um, when might that be?

4. "I don't make the rules. I just enforce them." Wuss.

5. "This is the way we've always done it." A reasonable stance back in the day when nothing in the world changed that could influence how you do things. And that time actually never existed.

6. "I'm busy." At least tell me what you are busy with, or maybe for how long. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but I am busy too. As is everyone else.

Read the rest of this article here.

The Career Advice you Probably Didn't Get
A TED Talk You Won't Want to Miss

Click here to watch author and leadership consultant Susan Colantuono share some surprising insights about what keeps women from top positions. It's not what you think.

And finally...

Diana Brooks Associates helps people and organizations improve leadership, communication and teamwork.

A speaker, trainer and coach, Diana provides free initial consultations. Contact her at 413.458.8263 or at www.dianabrooksassociates.com.