When I was in
New Business Development
in corporate,
we would craft
detailed reports
for the executive team
before we pitched ideas.
One or two of the executives
would read the reports
Most of them
would ask a trusted employee
to read the report
and give them a summary.
But
ALL of them
would read the summary.
The summary
was the most important
part of the report.
And
no one would claim
to do the reading
if they hadn’t actually done it.
That was a sure-fire way
to look like an idiot.
Judging by social media,
the opposite is true
of the general population.
Most people WON’T admit
they hadn’t read the report
(usually attached to the message).
““I didn’t do the reading…”
This is a brave
and generous thing to say.
If you’re not able
(or committed enough)
to do the reading
before you give your opinion,
please have the guts
to point that out.”
If you haven’t done the reading,
say that
before you state your opinion.