{"id":7036,"date":"2024-04-02T06:13:18","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T10:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/bad-news-travels-fast-frank-sonnenberg\/"},"modified":"2024-04-02T06:13:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T10:13:18","slug":"bad-news-travels-fast-frank-sonnenberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/bad-news-travels-fast-frank-sonnenberg\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad News Travels Fast \u2014 Frank Sonnenberg"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
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Bad news travels fast. And yet, most negative chatter about you or your organization isn\u2019t a result of external events outside of your control; it stems from lapses in judgement that could have been prevented.<\/p>\n

Negative comments are detrimental to your reputation. And once bad news spreads, it\u2019s difficult \u2014 if not impossible \u2014 to thwart. So be careful what you say and do because bad remarks can damage your reputation in the blink of an eye. As Doug Larson, the columnist, said, \u201cBad news travels fast. Good news takes the scenic route.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bad news is as difficult to contain as an out-of-control fire.<\/p>\n

Bad News Is Bad News<\/h3>\n

The best way to prevent an unfavorable public image is to refrain from behavior that\u2019ll lead to one. Here are 25 ways that people shoot themselves in the foot:<\/p>\n

Stab you in the back. <\/strong><\/span>Some people are sketchy. You never know how they\u2019ll burn you, but you know it\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n

Win at your expense.<\/strong><\/span> Some folks will do anything, and I mean anything, to win \u2014 even if it\u2019s at the expense of a relationship.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t try. Don\u2019t care.<\/strong><\/span> Some people are apathetic<\/a> and uncaring. It shows in everything they do.<\/p>\n

Make a fool out of themselves.<\/strong><\/span> Some folks do outrageous things and then expect people to forget how they behaved.<\/p>\n

Burn bridges. <\/strong><\/span>Watch out. When some people are wronged, they let anger and resentment get the better of them \u2014 and it\u2019s pretty ugly.<\/p>\n

Act hypocritical.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Some folks say one thing yet do another<\/a>. You\u2019re never sure if they even believe what they\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n

Sell their soul to the devil.<\/strong><\/span> Some people let temptation seduce them \u2014 even though they\u2019ll live to regret it.<\/p>\n

Treat people like dirt. <\/strong><\/span>Some folks think they\u2019re better than everyone and treat people with disrespect.<\/p>\n

Cut corners. <\/strong><\/span>Some people constantly scrimp to save a penny. Unfortunately, their shortcuts can take the shine off of otherwise flawless activity.<\/p>\n

Renege on promises. <\/strong><\/span>Some folks make commitments<\/a>, but don\u2019t even try to live up to them.<\/p>\n

Possess poor character. <\/strong><\/span>Some people do things that are unethical, immoral, or illegal. The worst part is that they know it \u2014 and do it anyway.<\/p>\n

Respond poorly to someone\u2019s problem. <\/strong><\/span>Some folks\u2019 only response to a customer problem is, \u201cIt\u2019s not my problem.\u201d (Ugh!)<\/p>\n

Tell half-truths.<\/strong><\/span> Some people distort facts, omit key details, and bury information in fine print. Unfortunately, you can\u2019t trust anything they say or do.<\/p>\n

Fail to pull their weight.<\/strong><\/span> Some folks are\u00a0lazy. They wouldn\u2019t lift a finger if their life depended on it.\u00a0That places a greater burden on the rest of us.<\/p>\n

Refuse to accept accountability.<\/strong><\/span> Some people drop the ball and don\u2019t even bother to apologize for their misstep.<\/p>\n

Think money is everything. <\/strong><\/span>Some folks will do anything to make a quick buck \u2014 even if it damages a long-term relationship.<\/p>\n

Nickel and dime you to death. <\/strong><\/span>Some people charge a small fee for incidental items \u2014 but when you add the costs up, it\u2019s substantial.<\/p>\n

Do a bait and switch. <\/strong><\/span>Some folks entice you by offering one thing but then substituting another.<\/p>\n

Exaggerate a story.<\/strong><\/span> Some people stretch the truth<\/a> to make something look better than it is.<\/p>\n

Talk behind your back. <\/strong><\/span>Some friends are disingenuous. It makes you wonder, If they treated one friend that way, they may do the same to me one day<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Mix with a bad crowd. <\/strong><\/span>Some people surround themselves with unprincipled people and become guilty by association.<\/p>\n

Act emotionally.<\/strong><\/span> Some folks say things without thinking and pay a hefty price for it. As the saying goes, \u201cYou can\u2019t unring a bell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fail to follow through.<\/strong><\/span> Some people are not dependable. You have to constantly look over their shoulder or they\u2019ll let you down.<\/p>\n

Behave as erratic as an irregular heartbeat. <\/strong><\/span>Some folks are so moody \u2014 you never know who will show up on a given day.<\/p>\n

Appear as weak as thin ice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Some people are spineless. They\u2019re devoid of strong beliefs, original thoughts, or opinions of their own.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Word on the Street About You?
<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From a business standpoint a negative remark can take the form of \u201cBuyer beware: I got burned. Don\u2019t let this happen to you.\u201d From a personal standpoint, it\u2019s harsh when people spread the notion that you\u2019re dishonest, unreliable, and can\u2019t be trusted. In conclusion, it takes a lot more<\/em> effort to rebuild a reputation than to establish one from the start. So, the next time you fail to put your best foot forward, just remember\u2026when you think you\u2019re fooling the world, you\u2019re only kidding yourself \u2014 bad news travels fast.<\/p>\n

NEW \u2026\u00a0<\/strong>Soul Food: Change Your Thinking, Change Yor Life<\/em>\u00a0is now available as an audiobook. Check it out on\u00a0Amazon<\/a>,\u00a0Audible<\/a>, or\u00a0iTunes<\/a>.\u00a0 \u27a4\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0hear a sample.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are Your Actions Putting Your Reputation at Risk?<\/h3>\n

Please leave a\u00a0comment<\/a>\u00a0and tell us what you think or\u00a0share it with someone who can benefit from the\u00a0information.<\/b><\/p>\n

Additional Reading:
Reputation: You Can\u2019t Run from Your Shadow<\/a>
What\u2019s More Important, Perception or Reality?<\/a>
Are You Reliable or a Flake?<\/a>
How to Repair Your Reputation<\/a>
15 Simple Ways to Destroy Your Career<\/a>
23 Ways to Spot a Hypocrite<\/a>
50 Signs That You\u2019re a Train Wreck<\/a><\/p>\n

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