Cowardly, Crooked, Confused,
Credibility-Busting, Obviously False Communication
Ever notice those defensive, dumb, demeaning phrases that creep or blast into or, heaven forbid, dominate a communications strategy? What you are seeing is living proof that the organization or its leadership is showing its profile in Jell-O®. Everyone else notices, too.
These phrases lay the groundwork for credibility-busting communication. Avoid them if you value your future reputation and the respect of your employees, customers, and key publics.
- “A subcontractor to one of our temporary suppliers did it.”
- Any phrase with the word “Not.” A lie always precedes or follows.
- “He’s not deranged . . . anymore.”
- “I am not a crook.”
- “I am not a racist.”
- “I did not have sex with that woman.”
- “It will set a precedent.”
- “It’s a merger of equals.”
- “It’s a vendetta.”
- “It’s a Witch Hunt”
- “It’s an isolated incident.”
- “It’s company policy.”
- “It’s not our fault.”
- “It’s not our problem.”
- “No comment.”
- “Nobody died.”
- “Only a few were guilty. Why punish everyone?”
- “Only a few were injured.”
- “Restructuring will strengthen our balance sheet.”
- “The customer used it wrong.”
- “The perfect combination of two great companies.”
- “The vast majority are good, decent people.”
- “They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
- “They have no credentials.”
- “They were careless and didn’t realize what they were doing.”
- “They were really young when it happened.”
- “They’re just disgruntled employees.”
- “We are good corporate citizens.”
- “We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior . . . (anymore)!”
- “We’d look silly.”
- “We’re not paid to find the weasels.”
If you would like to add additional examples that fit the profiles in Jello description, send them to Jim Lukaszewski at jel@e911.com
