A powerful and influential man lost his job recently after his emails and texts—and subsequently, his true feelings and opinions—became public during a trial. It wasn’t pretty and, to his boss, company, and nation, it wasn’t acceptable.
The event brought to mind a lesson from my earliest sales days: Never commit something to writing if you wouldn’t want others to see it. Since then, I’ve heard stories which prove these words to be wise, such as job tickets with unflattering words like, “Picky customer. Nuisance.” written on it and that same client seeing them during a press check.
Oops.
We all say and write things when we are in the moment. Emotions get the better of us. An apology can go along way towards undoing any damage done by the spoken word. But for the written word, it’s another story.
There is more permanence and impact.
Your private emails and text messages are unlikely to become public. I doubt someone will depose you as part of a trial and insist on seeing all of your communications. Still, don’t put yourself in the position where you could be embarrassed.
Watch your tongue, but watch your pen and cursor closer.
