Chapter 7. Overcoming Problems Together

 

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

 
 --THEODORE ROOSEVELT

When Things Go Wrong

Circumstances change. Mistakes are inevitable. The best policy when things go wrong is to pause and examine. Maintain a positive attitude: don’t be in a hurry to accuse anybody of anything. First, find out what really happened. Ask questions calmly, slowly, and methodically.

Getting excited and emotional only makes matters worse. Punishment is the worst motivator because it may cause people to duck responsibility for anything that might go wrong in the future.

The goal is not to make people feel guilty or incompetent. It is to prompt them to do better in the future by ensuring they know how. In other words, be a ...

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