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This Week in the World
Life is a campaign
According to Chris Matthew’s new book, “Life’s a Campaign.”
According to comedian Jon Stewart, life should be more than
that. Stewart insisted in his interview with Matthews that
there’s more to success than learning and implementing
what
works. Stewart accused Matthews’ book of needing a
“core of
soul.” He compared Matthews’ book to
Machiavelli’s The
Prince.
I haven’t read Matthews’ book, but I am acutely aware
of
the distinction between principled living and strategic
living. PowerPhrases are designed to embrace both. I never
suggest a campaign that projects an image that doesn’t
reflect the soul. It was nice to hear Jon Stewart make that
point too.
I wrote a poem - read and comment
Article:
Diversity Landmines: Educate and Move
On
PowerPhrase: What would you do if you didn't
feel
intimidated/guilty/vengeful?
I thought it was one of Nancy’s proudest moments. After
repeated
requests that her ex-husband take the utilities out of her name
and
after warning him that if he did not, she would cut the utilities
off, Nancy made good on her promise. Her ex was furious. I was
impressed.
Nancy would have been proud except for the fact that she did
have
some vengeance in her heart when she took the action.
That’s
understandable. After years of playing an underdog, she finally
exercised some power. I get why she wasn’t proud of her
vengeful
emotion, but I saw no reason to regret her action. She may have
felt
vengeance but it did not dictate her action.
It reminds me of advice I offer anyone who is intimidated by anger
or
guilt-ridden by someone’s hurt or, yes, vengeful because they
are
taking an action that hurts someone who has harmed them. I
suggest
they ask:
-
What action would you take if you didn’t feel
intimidated/guilty/vengeful?
If the action seems appropriate when your reactive emotion is
removed
from the equation, it probably is.
Bonus PowerPhrase
Think about how it could work
Reilly had a new product idea for his boss. Before he launched
into
it, he asked,
-
Please think about how this could work before you decide it
can’t.
It helped his boss hear the merits of his idea.
Another Bonus PowerPhrase
Ah, but you have heard of me...
Poison Phrase of the Week
Desperate diversity
In last week’s episode of Desperate Housewives, a doctor suggested that Susan might be in menopause. Susan responded,
- OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren’t, like, from some med school in the Philippines?
Watching, I thought, “I didn’t know Filipino doctors were poorly trained.”
Apparently they’re not. The comment stirred up outrage and demands for apologies. ABC did apologize.
Some people suggest that the outrage was unnecessary since Desperate Housewives is just a “silly comedy show.”
I disagree. Something did need to be said to keep this false stereotype from being perpetuated. When someone steps on a diversity landmine, it’s an important opportunity to educate and move on. That turns a diversity landmine into a diversity gold mine. Because of the incident and the objections, I now know more than before about the Filipino medical system.
Don’t condemn those who step on your diversity landmines. Educate and move on.
Read my article Educate and Move On.
 |
Read the in-depth description of: |
No response
My boss hasn't been answering my emails lately.His assistant said
he
was busy and would call me back, but he doesn't.
I passed him in the hall today and he didn't even nod when I said
hello.
Should I meet with him and ask if I offended him?
Meryl says,
Yes. Or say,
- I notice that you haven't been responding to my emails
lately, and
I'm wondering why. Have I offended you?
Then listen, listen, listen.
Do you have a communication question? Then Ask Meryl.
 |
There's lots of information about how to communicate |
Reader Success Story
Now I'm Angry
I had been having a hard time with a newly appointed head of
dept. This manager had little time for training and
development
and referred to the team as the 'cuddly and wooly brigade.'
When
I had a 1-1 meeting to discuss delivery of a 2 day course on
communication skills, I was met with the response: 'Not
interested. Don't care' This was repeated 2 more times when I
went on to describe the benefits for the managers in her dept.
I responded:
-
Boss, are you aware you have now said 'I
don't care' to me 3 times while we were
discussing your request for development for
your managers?
The reply was shock and a swift retreat with the meeting
ending
very amicably as I had previously allowed this type of
response
to go unnoticed.
Reader Comments on Previous Newsletters
Blog comments:
Sexual harassment in the military
Owning her own life after incest (Scroll wayyy down for latest)
|
Issue
288
October 9, 2007 |
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SpeakStrong Definition
To express yourself both powerfully &
effectively;
to say what you mean,
mean what you say,
without being mean
when you say it.