Genetics, Email Jerks & Government Social Media‏

Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were the Washington Post reporters that broke the Watergate scandal that resulted in the resignation of a president. Bernstein spoke in Minnesota a few weeks back and pointed out that ideology and partisanship is keeping politicians, journalists and the public from looking for “the best obtainable version of the truth.” That’s a good, glib way of explaining most of the work that we do – getting to the best obtainable version of the truth.

Godec

That Explains Everything  

Here’s a study that has found a genetic variant in about half of all white people that explains how and why they react the way they do…

http://tinyurl.com/o99k3tg

Listen to This  

Getting through to people who are continually bombarded by other people trying to get through to them is a lofty challenge for all of us. This will help:

http://tinyurl.com/mthlgv6

And now that we’re on the subject, ask yourself how many “duologues” you’ve had this week…

http://tinyurl.com/ksj5t8t

Hi, I’m From the Government & I’m here to Help You through Social Media  

It’s everywhere and everybody’s using it so agencies are increasingly getting in on the act. This brief Washington Post story just says if you do it, do it wisely…

http://tinyurl.com/khmzgwh

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time  

That sentence is the kicker to a great story that each of us can tell. Some people have to reach back to our college days (and some of us only to last week) but everybody likely has a bad decision story to share…

Because most of our work is ultimately about making better decisions, here’s where the bad ones are born:

http://tinyurl.com/qbhcfh4

What was Your Name Again?  

In the business of human relations and interpersonal communication, it would help if I could remember who you are…

http://tinyurl.com/m39yqyc

Confirmation Bias  

We all tend to ignore or dismiss any evidence contrary to the things that we’ve decided to believe. Helping people understand and consider other points of view starts with some basics…like this:

http://tinyurl.com/lotlm6j

Stop Sending Jerk Emails  

I get regular, necessary business emails from someone (who shall remain nameless) who sounds like a real jerk, but who I also suspect might actually be a swell human being. When I write back, I try to use the proper name and employ professional but warm greetings, salutations and complete sentences…you get the idea.

In response, I get terse, clipped messages, chopped language or nothing. I don’t take it personally, but if this is how s/he emails everybody, then I suspect s/he doesn’t get many lunch or happy hour invitations…

http://tinyurl.com/o6pz8zb

 

 

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