Tuesday, February 8, 2011

But,But,But!!!!!

Today we are going to discuss one of by worse faults, getting off our "buts." No that's not misspelled, we're not going to explore our derriere, but (see I did it again), how important it is to lose this word from our vocabulary.

Our first example is the excuse. Often when someone throws out the word "but," the excuse follows. I was going to clean my room, "but" little Johnny came over and wanted to go out and play. I really wanted to complete the assignment, "but" (you fill in the excuse).

The second example is the use of "but" to criticize. Example; The food was great, "but" the service was terrible. Of course there is the dyslexic example; The service was terrible, "but" the food was outstanding. In either case the word "but" is an indicator of a dissatisfaction. Let's look at it from a leadership position. Communication with those who look up to you is an art. A simple misuse of a little word like "but" can change the whole attitude of a conversation. Example; I love the floral arrangement you picked out, "but" let's put it over here. Verses; I love the floral arrangement you picked out, and if we both put our heads together I'm certain we can find a place for it that really highlights this room. First one reeks of criticism, where the second example void of the word "but" enlists a spirit of cooperation. Trading the "but" for an "and" makes all the difference in the world. A subtle word change results in a monstrous difference in cooperation and attitude. Lord knows we can all use a little less attitude, and a little more cooperation!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

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