This is Stevea Robbins.

Welcome to the Get It Done Guys, quick and dirty tips to work less and do more.

Sometimes it's really obvious that someone else screwed up,

and of course, we just have to correct them.

Otherwise, the world is we know it will stop.

So, right there at the team meeting, we put on our best diplomacy hat and we say,

You know, your user interface design really was confusing.

I'll send you a memo telling you what you did wrong and how you can fix it next time.

They smile and they say, why, thank you for your generous offer.

The next day, your goldfish are floating upside down in your office fish tank.

Your car tires seem to be missing some error, and your hard drive accidentally reformats itself.

Coincidence? I think not.

The problem is that despite your extraordinary attempt at diplomacy, you pointed out to someone

that they screwed up.

Of course, this happens with teammates. It also even happens with strangers.

Have you ever tried to cross a crosswalk? Cars are supposed to stop behind the stop line,

that's because it's called a stop line, to let pedestrians walk across. And yet, often some driver,

not you, I'm sure, will stop right in the middle of the crosswalk and pedestrians

have to walk around the car in order to cross.

The driver never actually looks like an inconsiderate law-breaking oath with no respect or

consideration for the people around them.

They always look like a nice person.

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