Just recently, I ran across a letter to the editor in our very local paper, The Woodstock Times. I never would have paused to read it had I not noticed the name attached to it: Bar Scott. Bar is an acquaintance and a friend of Idea Champions who lives a few miles from our office. She is a wonderfully accomplished singer/songwriter, besides being a fine example of a fully functioning human being. (You can find out about her and get her latest CDs here, at barscott.com)

In part, her letter read: "After many years of walking here, I want to thank the many drivers who take the extra moment that's needed to steer your car away from me as you drive towards me on the road. It makes a world of difference to me every time you do it. Your kindness means a lot and regularly lifts my spirit as I walk. Thank you."

The graceful tone of this letter struck me. Had I, or a similarly unenlightened individual, written on the same subject, it might have gone something like this: "Why is it that some drivers are so frightened of the solid yellow line down the center of the road that they'd rather put the lives of their fellow citizens at risk than risk touching it with the left wheel of their cars? Do they think that their car is going to explode if they do so? Or are they afraid that a Ninja-outfitted SWAT team, guns ablaze, is going to descend from the trees, shoot out their tires and whisk them and their families to a CIA prison in Romania for the rest of their demented, little lives? What IS the matter with you people!?"

You get the idea.

Now, which approach is more likely to achieve the desired outcome; that is, more drivers becoming considerate enough to steer away from pedestrians when they can? Bar's approach, where she praises considerate drivers... or dum-dum's, where he/I castigate those who fail to do what he/I think they should be doing?

Well, the very same goes for the world of organizations. Even in the highly unlikely event that you're 110% correct in your position, if you communicate like the Lord High Executioner you will most likely not only not get your desired outcome, you'll make any situation worse. Conversely, if you always take the time to "catch people doing things well," and praise and reward them, you end up getting more of the same.

This is simple, basic human nature. When dealing with humans, it's always best to take it into consideration before speaking and acting.