And That's All I Have To Say About That

This woman is not joyfulSeveral times recently I've felt like letting fly with a one-liner of what I see as wisdom, followed by "and that's all I have to say about that." Allow me a huffy moment or two to get a few of them out of my system. My, how quickly the list grows.

1. If you or your employee puts a commitment in writing, you are responsible to keep that commitment ... preferably with a kindly smile on your face.
2. Stink-talking against any family member speaks worse of you than it ever could of them.
3. And I don't want to hear it.
   
4. If your paycheck comes from a religious organization with a written or generally acknowledged culture or set of standards, anything you do publicly--and even some things you do privately--should be congruent with that organization, or you rob them and yourself.
5. If you're going to be cluttered, at least keep it in tidy stacks.
   
6. An employee can only survive being overruled or attacked very few times before the boss loses their loyalty.
7. Getting a laugh from the public does not make it worthwhile to cash in on your dignity, particularly in a sacred moment.
8. Get a backbone, for Pete's sake.
   
9. Just because the Bible says something literally, doesn't make it a religious principle; going the extra mile to love someone else always trumps any "teaching."
10. You'll quickly lose the support of your direct reports if you take the credit for their work. [And its corollary: you put "points in the bank" with your direct reports when you credit them publicly for their work.]
11. If you have it, and it's extra, and you don't need it but someone else does ... give it away.
    
12. A good parent doesn't trade in their kids' needs for anything else (tangible, experiential or prideful) that they might value.
13. If you want change, quit either your bellyaching or making veiled statements; be specific about what and why.
    
14. The ability to express a genuine empathic response is crucial to successful leadership.
15. Sometimes you need to just spring for the Viva paper towels and the Charmin toilet paper even if the Brawny and the Scott Tissue are cheaper.
16. If you are the pastor of a church, the platform is not your own personal stage for showcasing your greatness or your family.
17. Too many people don't understand the difference between "being called" and trying to fill a need within themselves.
18. You need to get out of the United States for a bit and get real about this world.
19. Leaders who only delegate and don't participate in the grunt-work may be leaders in name, but not for real.
20. Your way is not the only right way.
    

And that's all I have to say about that.