This is good advice for you hotheads out there.

Where were you when I needed this advice?! Fifteen years ago I flamed an exec. for her missing a critical deadline in the annual budgeting process. She had held up the whole organization’s process in a material and harmful way. But little did I know that this person was exempt from following budget development and deadline requirements at the expense of the whole organization. I had never flamed anyone at that point. And needless to say never did I again. Let’s just say I learned a lesson the hard way – in the checkbook and on the career path. I did not get the promotion I was on track for because I behaved like a diva instead of behaving like a compassionate and measured professional and then writing an even-handed note to the powerful exec.

I still cringe fifteen years later. My mistake cost me tens of thousands per year and delayed my career progress because I had hidden behind a wall of electronic anger and had not taken a deep breath before issuing the offending e-mail. E-mails are forever. The world’s dangerous enough without aiming the gun at yourself.

Peace Be with You All