I received a sample issue of The Manager’s Intelligence Report the other day. There was an article on the front page entitled Wisdom of the Ages that caught my attention. The article made several common sense points about life, leadership and business success, so I am posting excerpts of it here.
Don’t be afraid of the phrase, “I don’t know”. If you don’t know the answer, don’t try to bluff. If you’re at fault, take the blame. If you’re wrong, apologize. A wise person once said, “if you always tell the truth, you never have to remember which lies you told to which person.”
Never gossip. If someone wants to gossip with you, politely say you’re not interested. Remember the old adage, “when someone gossips, two careers are hurt – the person being talked about, and the person doing the talking.”
No task is beneath you. Don’t think you are above anything. Pitch in – especially if the job is one no one wants to do.
Share the credit whenever possible. Leaders who spread around credit look much stronger that those who take all the credit for themselves.
Ask for help. If you think you are in over your head, you are. Ask for help before things get out of hand. Besides saving yourself an embarrassment, you make a friend and ally.
When you don’t like someone, don’t let it show. Never burn bridges or offend others as you move ahead.
Let it go. What shouldn’t happen often does: you weren’t given the project you wanted, you were passed over for a promotion you thing you deserved. Be gracious and diplomatic – and move on. Harboring a grudge won’t advance your career.
When you’re right, don’t gloat. The only time you should ever use the phrase “I told you so”, is when someone says to you “you were right, I really could succeed at that job”.
These are some great common sense bits of wisdom. Use them, and watch you life, career and business blossom.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.SuccessCommonSense.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
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