Despite daily evidence from Washington and the entertainment industry to the contrary, truly powerful people do not resort to name-calling as a means of getting attention or being heard.
Crazy, I know.
We’ve all seen plenty of evidence showing how coarse our culture has become, and how juvenile. The name-calling in Washington and across the full spectrum of entertainment is shameful. Embarrassing, too, if you listen long enough. I have caught myself asking out loud, "Did you hear what you just said?!" as I listen to radio and TV news.
Sitcoms are worse, I’m told. I don’t know. I don’t watch them.
But lest we believe that the whole world is going down this particular drain, I have observed something quite different among some business leaders, educators, and bright young professionals.
Truly powerful people don’t call other people names. They don’t need to. They have learned how to present their point of view – even argument – with certainty and comfort in their position.
Instead of calling someone a derogatory name, they will challenge a decision or outcome based on information or process.
Reasonable people disagree. Confident people state their case and listen to opposing viewpoints. Truly powerful people take it to the next step to make things happen. They have no time for juvenile acting out or wasted time and energy involved in name-calling.
Susan Marshall is a consultant and founder of Executive Advisor LLC in Oconomowoc. She also is the author of "How to Grow a Backbone." For additional information, visit www.executiveadvisorllc.com.
