WELL LET ME TELL YOU A THING OR TWO!

"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish."

Albert Einstein, 20th century German-born theoretical physicist.

Always good to remember, particularly the next time you decide you must answer some other fool's social media comment with which you don't agree.

Emphasis on "other" intended.

YOUR WAY, MY WAY, THE RIGHT WAY

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."

George S. Patton, General US Army WWII

Differences of opinion must ultimately be resolved if there is to be unanimous, or close to it, support for whatever is to be done.

Just not initially.

In the beginning the task is to identify the right way, created from bits and pieces of all possible ways.  

THE HEART OF MISUNDERSANDING

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said."

Peter Drucker

20th century business consultant/teacher/author/speaker

Unless what isn't said isn't even thought.

The best way, the only way, to know what the other person thinks or assumes is to ask them.

THE ENEMY WITHIN

"We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction."

Aesop (620 BC-560 BC) Greek fabulist.

By revealing our weaknesses, one of which is having too many enemies.

Not everyone is against you.

When someone disagrees with you just accept it as an alternative view that may in your best interest.

WHY WE ARGUE

"Battle doesn't need a purpose; the battle is its own purpose."

Proverb

Not always but often enough.

The next time you begin to argue with someone ask yourself if the purpose and your desire to win are one and the same.

IN GOOD TIMES AND (MAYBE NOT IN) BAD

"Remorse sleeps during prosperity but awakes bitter consciousness during adversity."

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) Swiss political philosopher/essayist.

Not only remorse but also accusations and conflict.

Most any management group can tolerate each other when things go well; it's when they don't the team's true ability to work together becomes apparent.

THE REMEMBERED OFFENSE

"Acts of kindness may soon be forgotten, but the memory of an offense remains."

Proverb

So think carefully before you speak or act; those you offend will long after you hope they'd forget.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

"A word carries far -- very far -- deals destruction through time as the bullets go flying through space."

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) British novelist

Even more so in this age of instant communication.

Choose what you say (and type) very carefully, it will outlast you, on occasion having outdone you.

NO ARGUMENT HERE

"The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress."

Joseph Joubert

18th century French moralist

Progress that is mutually beneficial to both sides of the argument.

Any Opinion On This?

"Taste has no system and no proofs."

Susan Sontag

20th century American author

Keep this in mind the next time you attempt to "prove" your point about something that is a matter of taste.

Particularly in business.

Out Of The Mouths Of . . .

"Truth comes from the mouths of fools and children."

George  Lichtenberg

18th century German scientist

Of course not all "truth" but unfortunately enough that everyone other than all fools and some children will understand what this means.

Let's Shake On It

"By the time a partnership has dissolved, it has dissolved."

John Updike

20th century American writer

Like marriages, business partnerships are relatively easily to enter with termination consequences that often ends the business as well.

Be careful!

You'll Hear From My (very expensive) Lawyer!

"I was never ruined but twice; once when I lost a lawsuit and once when I won one."

Voltaire

18th century French writer

And yet in business we all too often pursue legal remedy to what could be settled by simple conversation and negotiation.

Reaching For An Empty Holster

"It is impossible to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person."

Anonymous

Suggested by Ron Hixon

Good advice but just make sure which of you is unarmed.

I have on many occasions thought it was the other person only to realize later, it was me.

One More Time, Listen Carefully!

"To spell out the obvious is often to call it in question."

Eric Hoffer

20th century American philosopher

Food for thought the next time you find yourself restating the "obvious" more than once.

Winning Battles, Losing Wars

"That which proves too much proves nothing."

Unattributed proverb

Particularly in an argument.

Make your point but be careful not to over do it. 

Communication: Argue or Discuss?

"The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion."

C.K. Chesterton
Early 20th century writer

Both argument and discussion imply communication but in very different ways.

I think I know what Mr. Chesterton would say but what do you think; is there ever a time in business when it is better to argue than to discuss?