NonsenseAtWork

I am always perplexed when people tell me they don't get feedback at work, so they can't always tell how they are doing. Excuse me? Are you telling me that you wait for feedback?

When I became a boss, I had to choose. Should I punish or praise? Should I protest or pat? And is there a right time to do one or the other?

We drool over the latest gadget instead of over the results of using the gadget. We personalize the latest productivity system instead of being personally productive.

Because common sense is based on our past, on our history, it doesn't always make sense today. (Look around you, does the present really resemble the past?)

Reality is for people who cannot handle video games, texting, social media, streaming, virtual meetings, ...

They will blame you if you are you so in love with your own strengths that you can't capitalize on the strengths of others on your team or in your organization.

People develop faith in you through your actions, not through your words of hope. Funny thing is, though, when others have faith in you, then your faith in yourself will grow.

The ability to say *yes* clearly or *no* firmly matters equally in your management role. Every day.

Decisions must be made. And because you must decide, even before all the perfect, pertinent information is available to you, you go with your gut. Big mistake.

What happens if you spend more than you earn? Sooner or later, you go broke. There is no magic to it.

Do you know what older people, like me, often say about life? That they are more likely to feel sorry for what they did not do. And less sorry for what they did. Or, as some kids would say, "Sorry, not sorry."

Apparently… I feel obliged to use the word “apparently,” because I struggle to believe that this report is true. Apparently, younger generations believe that punctuation is hostile. Specifically, they find full-stops intimidating.

Be wise with your knowing and with your not knowing. Occasionally say “I don’t know.” Even when you know. Then wait and listen.

Does what you learn change you? If your behavior does not change, then you learned nothing. It was not learning. It was just information gathering.

At this time of year, we wonder whether we’ve been good enough to expect a reward from the jolly fat man in the corner office. Which is why it’s a good time to remind you that expectations can influence behavior.

When you keep to your kind, you are excluding many people. You are being unkind to those who are not your kind.

Here's what still worries me. When is it dung and when is it something useful? When is it nonsense and when is it sense? And who decides which is which?

Often we hesitate to answer because we fear. This fear is understandable when we are young and inexperienced. But it makes less sense when we are older and wiser.

If your attitude is to choose to be your anger, then you will react in anger. Which seldom ends well. But if you look at the situation differently so that you can choose your attitude to be "I feel angry," then you can choose how to direct that feeling of anger.

Before you judge someone for breaking your rules, make sure you understand *why* they broke your rules. Because if they broke your rules properly, then it is probably time for you to judge your rules instead.

The problem is two-fold. First, you can probably do it faster and smarter. And second, you are itching to jump in and get it done. Because you're a manager. It's your nature to get things done.

I am never surprised when leaders use we-talk when things go badly, and I-talk when things go well. Disappointed, yes. But never surprised.

We still discourage diversity. Why? Because uniformity is easier to manage. Because diversity is discomforting, hence inconvenient.

You will be ineffective if you ignore details that matter. And you will squander resources if you focus on issues that will fade away without your help.

Sometimes, in life and in business, setting a compass bearing can be more effective than relying on specific directions. Because when you seek security in detailed directions, then every obstacle will frustrate you and every detour will intimidate you into losing your way.