Snap Wisdom Archives

Jim Lukaszewski – Snap Wisdom #4

Compassionate but with Caution

Control your language and control your own emotions: Avoid taking personal criticism, inflammatory language, and emotionally charged words, such as “ashamed,” “embarrassed,” “humiliated,” “bad,” “ugly,” “weird,” “worried,” and “scum.” They are just words. Until you react. Then they become headlines.
Instead, move to answer questions constructively and manage your emotional reaction by focusing on positive declarative responses.
Compassion and empathy sometimes use Color (emotional) Words to emphasize that we understand the damage we’ve done, or that others have suffered, such as:

Ashamed	Shocked
Concerned	Tragic
Disappointed	Unfortunate
Embarrased	Unhappy
Failed	Unintended
Humiliated	Unnecessary
Mortified	Unsatisfied
Regrettable

CAUTION: Be very careful how and whether you express empathy.
Empathetic sentiments can cause negative reactions from victims. Be
ready for that.

Do constructive, positive, helpful actions and deeds they will speak
louder than words.

Remain quiet. Let someone else speak, or simply, let your empathetic
actions and deeds do the talking.

Jim Lukaszewski – Snap Wisdom #3

The Liar’s Secret Evil Oath Revealed*

With a hand on someone else’s checkbook or reputation…
I solemnly swear to avoid the truth;
The whole truth;
Any part of the truth;
Using every tool on the Liar’s List, and more;
To lie, mislead, misstate, demean, humiliate, and subvert;
To disparage the truth, and threaten pain and suffering to truthtellers.

* Note: These ideas came to mind while watching a number of far-out-there Congressmen working on destroying our democracy and blaming it on everybody else. If you have additions to this oath, I would be happy to publish them in an upcoming issue of Savvy. – Jim

Jim Lukaszewski – Snap Wisdom #2

During the First 120 Minutes – Activate Your Crisis Response Checklist

Stop the production of victims.
Tend to the victim’s needs.
Communicate frequently internally.
Alert those outside your organization who are directly affected.
Call your insurance company.
Have an experienced crisis communication consultant nearby or on board.
Hire an attorney competent to the situation.
Call your Mom, do what she says, and things will get better by tomorrow afternoon.
Deal with new media, old media, critics, bloviators, bellyachers, backbench complainers, and survivors.

Jim Lukaszewski – Snap Wisdom #1

Snap Wisdom #1: Truth

15% Facts and Data
50% Emotion
35% Point of Reference (where you or the victim were when it
happened).
Too many facts and too much data humiliate victims, makes
them angry, deaf, and search for an attorney.
A single victim tear, especially in front of a jury or on television,
can wipe out more data, and smart experts than you can possibly
assemble.