Chapter . Tip #4: Protect the Self-Esteem
I heard an advertising director tell his assistant, ''You should have made the layout less crowded, you didn't use the right colors, and your concept makes no sense.''
I heard a manager criticize his sales rep with ''You blew it. You need to pay attention to your prospect. You didn't listen. Perhaps you're not right for this job.''
Criticisms like these may be improvement-oriented, but they attack the self-esteem—they emphasize that the recipient didn't do well and imply that he might not have the ability to do better. These messages stab the ego.
''Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me'' runs the proverb. But if ever a proverb was wide of its mark, this one is. As the majority ...
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