(If you are offended by the words dumb or stupid, don’t read this article.)
We all do dumb things.
Smart people do it. Not-so-smart people do it. I have done my share of stupid too. However, in life and work, it’s better to stay away from certain levels of dumbness.
In life, I don’t recommend:
–Licking all the buttons in your office elevator.
–Giving-in to road rage and slamming into other cars on the highway.
–Eating moldy food from your refrigerator.
–Driving 110 in a 25 mph speed zone.
–Picking a fight with a bouncer at a local club.
–Walking into a bank with a face mask and asking the teller for $100,000 in unmarked bills.
–Yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theater.
–Shoplifting a 70-inch TV from an electronics store.
All these really dumb actions could make you terribly ill, land you in jail, or worse. Although we are blessed with the freedom to do dumb things, it’s better if you don’t.
Don’t do dumb at work either.
At work, I don’t recommend:
–Ceasing communications with your people.
–Hiring people based solely on appearance.
–Expecting employees to choose work over their personal life.
–Telling middle-aged job applicants they are too old.
–Firing people without a reason.
–Managing with fear and intimidation.
–Yelling at people.
–Giving yourself a bonus after a layoff.
Great leaders avoid bad actions. Why do some leaders do dumb things every week across corporate America? They don’t think or care about the consequences of their actions. When you do dumb things at work, bad things happen to people and their organizations.
