Put “Understanding” On The Top Of Your List

Put “Understanding” On The Top Of Your List! – – Robert Rohm ~ / ~

I have talked before about “finer distinctions” as they relate to different topics, but with every passing day, I see their value even more. This Tip is about the distinction between knowledge and understanding.

When I understand something clearly, I am amazed at the results and outcome I often experience. However, when I think I understand something and then later discover that I really did not understand things as clearly as I thought I did, I end up confused and very frustrated.

All of us have had an experience where we thought we understood a situation clearly only to find out, that we, in fact, did not have a clear understanding at all. You see, it is not what we think we know that really matters. The real key is actually understanding what is taking place. That is what will make the final difference.

If our emphasis is on true understanding rather than just knowledge, we will be much better. Our actions can be no wiser or better than the way we think, and our thinking can be no wiser than our understanding. You have to really think to understand this Tip!

Maybe an example will help. Many people put a vast amount of time, effort and energy into planning a wedding; the rehearsal dinner, the wedding ceremony and the honeymoon. People often mistakenly think that the emphasis should be on the wedding ceremony itself. However, all of that is only going to last for only a few hours. Marriage is supposed to last a lifetime. Yet, frequently more thought is put into the wedding ceremony than the actual marriage itself. This concept requires a great deal of understanding.

If your knowledge of marriage is only about the wedding and honeymoon, rather than understanding how a relationship works, in the end you will be very surprised and disappointed.

The same is true of finances. We often hear about people who have won the lottery. Overnight they are very wealthy, yet they may not have acquired an understanding of how wealth should be wisely handled. In that case, all they have acquired is the knowledge that they are rich. It is much more important to actually have understanding about money matters. If someone has understanding and loses all their money, they can always get more money. But, if they have only knowledge and no understanding, they may end up broke.

The wisest man who ever lived had something to say about this topic:

“Wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.” Proverbs 2:10

You see, Solomon gave us four steps for successful living; wisdom in our heart, knowledge in our soul (mind, will and emotions), discretion as our protection, and finally, understanding as the overall watch-guard of our life.

Here is one last example to illustrate my point. A while back I had to get two replacement doors for a building. Did you know there is a difference between a right-handed door and a left-handed door?

It is not just a matter of what you think about it. It is a matter of clearly understanding the industry specific explanation of right-handed and left-handed doors. The carpenter, builder, construction supervisor, architect and employee at the local hardware store all have to have the same understanding. Otherwise, what you think is a right-handed door may actually be a left-handed door.

It does not matter that you have knowledge that you need a door. What matters is that you have understanding so that you purchase the correct door. My builder explained to me that if the door swings open to the right, away from you, as you stand in the doorway with the hinges to your back, it is a right-handed door. If the door swings open to the left, away from you, as you stand in the doorway with the hinges to your back, it is a left-handed door.

That is the understanding that everyone in the building industry has, therefore there can be no misunderstanding. The next time you need to purchase a door you will have good understanding if you remember this example and not have to make two trips to the store of only one door!

I know that is just a simple example but multiply that times the hundreds of details over the days, weeks and years of your life and you will see why understanding carries the day. And if you put sod in your yard, remember, “green side up!”

The purpose of this Tip is to help you have a better life. I know of nothing that has helped my life be better than the fact that understanding is paramount in all that I do. It may take a little longer on the front side of a situation to have a clear understanding, but believe me, like my father used to say, “It is better to have a good understanding, than a bad misunderstanding.” I sincerely hope this concept and Tip makes your life better.

Tip: Put “understanding” on the top of your list!

Have a great week! God bless you! Dr. Robert A. Rohm

Creativity Never Goes Out Of Style

Creativity Never Goes Out Of Style – Harvey Mackay ~ / ~

A shopkeeper was dismayed when a brand-new small business, much like his own, opened next door on his left and erected a huge sign which read BEST DEALS.

He was horrified when another business competitor opened on his right, and announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading LOWEST PRICES.

The shopkeeper panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign of all over his own shop. It read MAIN ENTRANCE.

There is no substitute for creativity. That shopkeeper could have spent a year’s profits on an ad campaign, mailings, giveaways, you-name-it, and probably wouldn’t have made as large an impact. A stroke of brilliance kept his business humming.

There is no correlation between IQ and creativity. Every single person has the potential to become more creative than they think they are. The key is developing a mindset that enables them to look at things from new perspectives.

Creativity and innovation are important to business success. If your organization needs to devote the resources necessary to support a creative atmosphere in your organization, take these factors into account:

Money. Creativity and innovation can’t breathe in an atmosphere of budget cuts and downsizing. You may produce creative ideas to get around lack of funds, but in the long run you won’t get many practical ideas unless you’re willing to spend cash on developing and testing them.

Elbow room. Cramming people into tight little cubicles is no way to get their imaginations working. Give them room to move around: conference rooms to spread out, windows to stare out, and the freedom to work in different environments that spark innovative ideas and insights. In this age of working from home, be open to allowing people to escape the distractions of the office to do some brainstorming outside the confines of the workplace.

Freedom. Part of this is related to the space issue – freedom to work in nontraditional surroundings. But more important is freedom to suggest changes and question assumptions. Don’t challenge people to think creatively only to squash their ideas with “But that’s not how we do things around here.” Keep your eye on the prize and consider innovative ways of reaching that goal.

Risk. Remember how many times Thomas Edison tested his first light bulb? You can’t generate creative thinking if people don’t feel comfortable taking chances and failing. You should tolerate intelligent risk – and even celebrate failure – if people are acting in good faith while trying to help the organization grow. Failure is not fatal; it’s just proof that there’s another solution out there.

Advertising genius Alex Osborn, considered the “father of brainstorming,” devoted his life to promoting and teaching creative thinking. He believed the fiercest enemy of creativity was criticism: “Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom, while discouragement often nips it in the bud. Any of us will put out more and better ideas if our efforts are appreciated.”

Make creativity a core value. There is no business that cannot benefit from creative thinking. Talk about the power of ideas and the benefits of innovation. Provide training that hones people’s thinking. Reward creative efforts, even when they fail, to reinforce the value you place on imagination and creative thought. Sometimes a minor tweak can make a major difference.

As a manager, it’s critical that you model creative thinking. If your staff hears you express not so traditional ideas, they will be more inclined to share their thoughts.

A real estate tycoon from New York City visited a Miami bank and said his wife wanted to fly over to the Bahamas, so he needed a fast $3,000. The banker said, “I don’t know who you are.”

He said, “I have a very successful real estate office in New York City.”

The banker said, “That doesn’t matter. I’d have to have some collateral.”

“Well, I’ve got a brand-new Cadillac outside.”

The banker jumped all over it and took the Cadillac. A week went by, and the New Yorker returned, paid off the $3,000 note and $25 interest for the week.

The banker said, “I don’t understand sir. I looked at your application and called New York City. You’re a very successful real estate operator. Why did you have to come into my bank and borrow a paltry $3,000?”

“Can you think of a better place to keep my car for seven days for $25?”

Mackay’s Moral: A spark of creativity can ignite a blazing business success.

There Is Always Something For Which You Can Be Thankful

There Is Always Something For Which You Can Be Thankful! – – Robert Rohm ~ / ~

As most of you know, here in the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. I realize that this Tip goes to many other countries where Thanksgiving is celebrated at different times.

Regardless of where you live and when you celebrate it, Thanksgiving is a good time to remember to be thankful and grateful for everything that you have in life. I have often been reminded that success in life has everything to do with an attitude of gratitude. When a person has a good attitude and a grateful heart, it seems to open doors of opportunity for them that would never be opened otherwise. Not many people who are bitter and ungrateful have prospered very much in their life.

Years ago, I heard the story of an Englishman by the name of Matthew Henry. He was a preacher and well-known Bible scholar who lived from 1662 to 1714. His exposition of the Old and New Testament is a commentary that is still in print to this very day. He was known for his practical application, combined with a well-sustained flow of English literature. Perhaps that is what made the commentary one of the best works of its kind.

One day Matthew Henry was riding his horse through the woods. He was on his way to a church meeting where he was going to be the guest speaker. Suddenly, a masked bandit ran out of the woods with a gun in his hand and demanded that Matthew Henry get off his horse. Mr. Henry obeyed the robber, as he knew this was a dangerous situation. Even though he tried to talk to the man about God and spiritual matters, the bandit would hear none of it. He quickly took all of Matthew Henry’s money and ran back into the woods. It all happened so quickly that Matthew Henry hardly had time to realize what had happened. Although he was now penniless, he got back on his horse and continued on his journey.

His mind took him to the thought that we are supposed to give thanks in everything that happens to us. He asked God how he was supposed to be thankful for being robbed! As he continued on his way, the answer came to him. That night he told the story to his audience about what had happened to him earlier in the day. He concluded his message by sharing the reason he could be thankful for what had happened to him.

“First,” he said, “I am thankful I have never been robbed before. Second, I am thankful he took my money and not my life. Third, I am thankful he did not take more; he could have taken my horse and my clothes as well. Next, I am thankful that what I had stolen from me really did not amount to very much. Then I am grateful that what I lost, in time, could all be replaced. But, finally, and most importantly, I am thankful that I was the one robbed and not the robber!”

Isn’t that a fantastic attitude of thankfulness and gratitude? I remember reading that story years ago and thinking, “I want to be that kind of person.” Not that I want to put myself in harm’s way and constantly have bad things happen to me! But I want to be the kind of person who looks for the good, the pure, and the positive in everything that happens in my life. If I believed that life was just a string of meaningless, random events that haphazardly happened to me, I think I would live in a constant state of depression. I must believe that life has its way of teaching me what it wants me to know. If I will look for ways to have a grateful heart and be thankful, I will find them, just as Matthew Henry did so long ago. Again, an “attitude of gratitude” always carries!

During this time of Thanksgiving, let me encourage you to look at even the most difficult, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching situations that you may be facing right now and look for ways that you can be grateful for what has taken place in your life. During our darkest moments there is still good to be found.

The last time I was in Israel our guide Moshe, told us the holocaust was a terrible thing, yet out of it came the nation of Israel. “Without the holocaust we would never have had a homeland and nation for our people!” That is the attitude I am talking about! I cannot completely control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond to those things!

I do not know about you, but I have discovered that having a thankful heart really is the basis for everything good that happens in my life and it opens doors of opportunity that I never could have imagined. Have a thankful heart and it will open doors of opportunity for you, as well!

Tip: There is always something for which you can be thankful!

Have a great week! God bless you! Dr. Robert A. Rohm

Keep Problems In Perspective

Keep Problems In Perspective – Harvey Mackay ~ / ~

In one of my favorite “Peanuts” comic strips, Linus says to Charlie Brown, “There’s no problem too big we can’t run away from it.” I chuckle every time I think about it because it sounds like such a simple solution to a problem.

We all have problems. It’s how we deal with them that matters most. Problems move through three phases:

1. The proactive stage when problems can be solved fairly simply.

2. The reactive stage when remedial steps are necessary to turn the situation around.

3. The crisis stage when immediate action is required to avoid permanent damage.

Unfortunately, some people live their entire lives in the crisis stage, while others can go through life avoiding rough times. How can this be?

My good friend Nido Qubein, president of High Point University in North Carolina, told me that if you address problems while they’re still in the proactive stage, it will prevent unimportant things from turning into urgent situations that divert your time and attention away from important things.

Problems seem much worse in the middle of the night. If I wake up thinking of a problem, I tell myself that it will seem lighter in the morning. And it almost always is.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by one of life’s little problems, I reflect on the story Pope John XXIII told about himself. He confessed, “It often happens that I wake at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember I am the Pope.”

Certainly, few of us face that level of responsibility. But worry is universal. We all have problems from time to time.

Try not to borrow other people’s problems. I must confess that I have broken this rule because I wanted to help someone, or I thought I was more equipped to handle a situation. As difficult as it may be, wait to offer advice until you are asked, and don’t be offended if that request never comes. Or if your advice is not heeded.

Problem solving is not easy, so don’t make it harder than it is. Ignoring a problem rarely makes it go away.

Perhaps the worst thing to do is to act as if there isn’t a problem. It’s like the battered fighter who hears his trainer say between rounds: “Champ, you’re going great! He ain’t laid a glove on you!”

The champ says, “Well, you better keep an eye on the referee then, because somebody in this ring is beating the hell outta me.”

The best place to solve a problem is at the point of complaint.

American Airlines has always had a commitment to the customer being satisfied. Years ago, American realized that a large percentage of its passengers who made complaints had them around the ticket counter and boarding gate. To head off complaints before they got started, American created a position of special-passenger service agent to deal with the problems as they arose so that the customers’ problems could be solved before they could criticize the airline.

And then there is the story of a woman who hired a carpenter for repairs on her farmhouse. One day a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit and then his ancient truck refused to start, so the woman drove him home. He invited her in to meet his family. As they walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

Inside, he smiled and hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. As he walked the client out to her car, she asked him about the tree.

“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I can’t help having troubles on the job, but troubles don’t belong at home. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”

“Funny thing,” he said smiling, “when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”

Wouldn’t it be great if we could leave all our work troubles at work and not bother our families or leave our personal problems at home and get on with our workday. Find your trouble tree and put your problems in perspective.

Mackay’s Moral: Get control of your problems before they get control of you.

Forgiveness Is Giving Up The Hope Of A Better Past

Forgiveness Is Giving Up The Hope Of A Better Past. – – Robert Rohm ~ / ~

All of us have had experiences in life when we felt as though we got the “short end of the stick.” Someone did us wrong, let us down or damaged us in some way that caused us to have hurt feelings. In this life, no one is going to escape having something happen that is unkind or unfair.

Perhaps you did not have the kind of childhood you would have liked. Maybe your family experience could have been better.

Perhaps there were unmet needs or a shortage of money or food or love. Regardless of past circumstances, there is only one solution to make peace with your past and that is forgiveness.

I am amazed at how many Hollywood movies have been made based on the theme of someone’s ability to travel back in time in an effort to make things different or do things over. The hidden message is always the same: If I could go back, knowing what I know now, I would do things differently and make things work out much better.

When I look back at situations that have happened in my own life, I realize that, without exception, every one of them was simply a learning process.

I once read a book called, “Healing Damaged Emotions,” by Dr. David Seamands. He said that we cannot go back and undo our past, but we can reframe it with forgiveness. Reframing causes us to see how the circumstances and situations of our lives are part of the process that makes us who we are today. Holding on to hurt and bitterness does no good. It neither helps us nor the offender. However, forgiveness brings closure and prepares the way for new doors to open.

Unfortunately, some people have gone through some severe trials and tests that were not brought on by anything that they did themselves; they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am not suggesting that you deny your past. Neither do I think you should keep reliving your past. Your only real hope is to reframe your past with forgiveness. When something has happened that has caused a lot of anguish, the only thing that can be done is to reframe it by learning from it and offering forgiveness as a way of bringing closure to the situation. A person who is unwilling to forgive lives with a sentence worse than death.

As you read this, I feel certain that some specific circumstance is in the back of your mind. Let me encourage you to bring some closure to that situation today. Don’t let it keep gnawing at your soul another minute, another hour or another day! Living with unforgiveness is like you drinking poison but expecting another person to die!

If you were abused in some way or cheated, or treated in a way that was unfair, just call it exactly what it was. But also realize that you have learned some powerful truths that have shaped you into who you are today because of what happened to you in the past. Now, at this moment, simply offer the decision of forgiveness to that specific situation and be free from it once and for all.

Life is too short to have our past nagging at our lives like a low-grade fever. The future is bright for all of us if we will but let go of the things of the past so that we are free to experience the best life has to offer us. In the long run it is the only way to true freedom.

Although I am not a licensed therapist, my Ph.D. minor is in counseling. Let me encourage you to allow this “counseling” Tip to bring peace to a troubled place in your heart that no longer needs to be there. Again, any person who does not live with forgiveness in his or her heart, lives with a sentence that is worse than death. Trust me; bringing closure to the past will open a brand-new door of opportunity that you never thought possible. Forgiveness is the key. Unlock that door today!

Tip: Forgiveness is giving up the hope of a better past.

Have a great week! God bless you! Dr. Robert A. Rohm

The Person Who Knows Everything Has The Most To Learn

The Person Who Knows Everything Has The Most To Learn – Harvey Mackay ~ / ~

A young, foolish pilot wanted to sound cool and show who was boss on the aviation frequencies. So, the first time he approached an airfield at night, instead of making his official request to the tower, he said, “Guess who?”

The controller, unimpressed by the arrogant newbie, switched the field lights off and replied, “Guess where!”

Of all the human failings that can destroy a business, arrogance is the deadliest. It is the most readily acquired, the easiest to justify and the hardest to recognize in ourselves. We know it when we see it, and we know it is wrong.

When we’re successful, we reason, don’t we deserve a bit of special consideration? Aren’t we important enough to avoid the everyday annoyances and the tedious responsibilities that ordinary mortals must endure? No one is “entitled” to be dishonest or greedy, but a bit of smugness, well, that’s just natural in a leader. We accept it. We even nurture it as a sign of success.

There is nothing at all wrong with being proud of your company and the work you do. In fact, if you don’t take pride in your work, you are probably not doing the best job you can do. But pride is absolutely not arrogance.

Arrogance is defined as engaging in behaviors intended to exaggerate a person’s sense of superiority by disparaging others. It is different from greed, laziness or dishonesty. It’s not the same as narcissism, which is self-admiration. Nor is arrogance the same as being confident, which I consider a positive trait.

Unfortunately, many leaders today confuse confidence with arrogance. Confidence in one’s ability is a critical element in the willingness to take risks while still steering the ship. Arrogance takes risks by assuming everyone will get on board even when the boat has a hole in it.

Arrogance is a trait that society often tolerates and rewards, especially in professions like politics and business. A study conducted at Yale University found that arrogant attitudes begin to develop early in life. These researchers confirmed that children between the ages of five and seven years old begin to show signs of arrogant thinking because they believe they know more than adults like their parents.

Arrogant people are easily identified by the behaviors they exhibit.

For example, they always want to be in the spotlight. They need to be the center of attention. They don’t give others a chance to speak and often interrupt people.

They are more concerned with looking good than doing a good job. They don’t like doing dirty or tedious jobs. They take credit for other people’s work. If you have ever worked for a boss like that, learn from their poor example and vow to treat others better when you move into a supervisory role.

They rarely admit they are wrong, and they don’t like to be challenged. They blame others when things go awry and seldom apologize or say they are sorry. Their facade is easily shattered, however, when their staff bolts and they are left to fend for themselves.

They don’t like feedback and get very defensive. They have a hard time reflecting on failures and weaknesses. I like to say they get chapped lips from kissing the mirror too much.

Arrogant people turn everything into a competition and will step on anyone who gets in their way to success. They hate to lose. They have certain expectations and want everything to go according to their plan, disregarding the merits of others’ ideas.

Anyone who doesn’t agree with them is deemed an enemy or threat. They treat people who aren’t like them poorly. Arrogant people typically don’t have a lot of friends because they have trouble building sincere relationships. They care more about winning than about friendship. Their negative qualities drive people away.

Summed up, arrogant people have little sense of self-awareness, and despite their best efforts, are easily identifiable.

A man who thought highly of himself stepped on a coin-operated scale that voiced his calculated weight. The high-tech machine then dispensed a card with comments about his personality. He read the card and with a broad smile covering his face and handed it to his friend to read. She took it and read aloud, “You are a well-built, enthusiastic, dynamic leader, admired by your peers.”

In disbelief, she read it once again and commented with a smile, “Just remember, the machine had your weight wrong too.”

Mackay’s Moral: Knowledge makes people humble. Arrogance makes people ignorant.

It’s Okay To Rest, But Don’t You Quit

It’s Okay To Rest, But Don’t You Quit! – – Robert Rohm ~ / ~

Life can be challenging at times. Dr. Scott Peck, the famous Psychiatrist and author once wrote, “Life is hard and then you die.”

That statement seems so pessimistic. His point was, however, that if we expect life to be anything else, we will be sorely disappointed.

Even though I know Dr. Peck’s statement is true, I do not believe we can live our lives based solely on that premise. It is my belief that our personal attitude toward situations which occur in our life is really the only thing that makes any difference. If we look at situations with a defeated, negative attitude, we will eventually give up and quit. However, if we focus on treating life like a marathon rather than a sprint and we keep a positive outlook in the process, we will be victorious in the end.

Recently, I came across a poem that sums up what I am trying to say. I believe these words will make a difference in your work and relationships if you put them into practice.

Don’t Quit! (Author unknown) When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When the care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is weird with its twists and its turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won, had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow.

The distant goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor’s cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out; The silver tint of the clouds of doubt; And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit!

Why not put the truth found in this poem into practice this week?

Your biggest success may be just around the next corner. But you will never know if you throw in the towel and give up. The old saying is still true, “The darkest hour is just before dawn!”

Learn to let your challenges bring you to a whole new level.

Anything great in life always comes with a high price tag. With that in mind, get back to your next project and see it through to the end!

Tip: It’s okay to rest, but don’t you quit!

Have a great week! God bless you! Dr. Robert A. Rohm

Tact Is About Making A Point, Not An Enemy

Tact Is About Making A Point, Not An Enemy – Harvey Mackay ~ / ~

An office supervisor called an assistant in to give her the bad news that she was being fired. He started the conversation with: “Miss Johnson, I really don’t know how we’re going to get along without you, but starting Monday, we’re going to try.”

Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. The best advice is to say the right thing or say nothing. Choose your words carefully. As Abraham Lincoln put it, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Another U.S. President, Harry Truman, said, “Tact is the ability to step on a man’s toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.”

Tact is especially important in delivering bad news. Handled correctly tact can build credibility and strengthen your reputation, while preserving existing relationships. A tactful approach demonstrates professionalism and good manners, which can lead to career opportunities. Tact is critical for business and life success in handling interactions. Without tact we lose friends and other relationships, respect, work and money.

Tact, as defined by Merriam Webster’s dictionary is, “A keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense.”

How many times have you said something without thinking it through and then regretted it? I would venture to say we’ve all been guilty. Tact comprises many things including compassion, courtesy discretion, diplomacy, respect and thoughtfulness.

Often we are so focused on achieving results that we forget how we come across to other people. Seek out a group of people you trust who can give you valuable feedback on your communication skills. Be open to their suggestions and work on improving.

It’s important to note that tact is more than language. Tact encompasses how people react to situations and includes body language such as pacing or facial expressions – frowns, sighs or a rolling of eyes.

Tact wins friends; the lack of it often loses them. Tactful people make friends because they have a way of drawing people out and inducing them to express the best within them.

What tact does not include is dishonesty. Sometimes it involves sugar-coating the words so they are easier to hear. Even then, you must be careful not to overdo the syrup or the message may get lost.

Once two rival hatters visited President Abraham Lincoln, each of whom presented him with a hat he had made. After the presentation, both hatters stood back expectantly awaiting Lincoln’s comments.

Lincoln looked over the two hats very carefully and then remarked solemnly, “Gentlemen, they mutually excel each other.” Now that is tactful!

One of the worst things you can do is to let your emotions get the best of you. Calm yourself down in stressful situations by taking a break, going for a walk or whatever technique will help you maintain your composure. Learn to control your emotions. As the saying goes, you can’t “unring the bell.” Stop and think before you speak.

Our society has become increasingly accustomed to spouting the first sentiment that comes to mind – just look at the comments sections online to see how people respond to situations. I would hope that those folks would be less inclined to be so uncivil if they were interacting face-to-face.

Tact is probably the hardest when disagreements pop up, creating tension. Be open minded and listen to the other side, and perhaps that will encourage them to listen to your point of view too. It’s ok to respectfully disagree but keep it civil.

Benjamin Franklin said, “If you must speak your mind, then mind how you speak.”

Tact is the ability to think of things far enough in advance not to say them. And for the times when you’re not as diplomatic as you should be, you need to be quick on your feet.

A loud Army sergeant is drilling some recruits when he gets a message that the grandmother of one of them has died, so he shouts, “Jones, your grandmother died!” And Jones promptly faints.

The sergeant’s superior officer takes him to the side afterwards and tells him he should be a bit more tactful about such things.

A week later the sergeant gets word that Smith’s grandfather has passed away. The sergeant enters the barracks and calls everyone to attention announcing, “All those with living grandfathers step forward. Not so fast, Smith.”

Mackay’s Moral: People with tact have less to retract.