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Sticking My Nose Where It Doesn't Belong. Or Does It?
| Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:39 PM |
I have a problem.
Mistakes seek me out. They jump out from a page, grab me by the throat and demand my attention. I don’t go looking for the mistakes. They find me. Perhaps it’s my training as a writer. Perhaps it’s the result of all the editing of marketing pieces I performed in the corporate world.
Over the past week, I’ve been helping two clients with online research . Every website I visited had typos, grammatical errors and punctuation errors. Every single one. I visited a local business establishment that had a wall full of brochures from businesses within the community. While I waited for my meeting, I picked up brochures that looked interesting to see how the businesses were marketing and branding their products. Of the 10 or so brochures I saw, only one was free of mistakes.
So what’s the problem? I care. It really isn’t about being right or being anal about perfection. I love the written word—and how, when used well, it can connect two minds in a wonderful “aha!” moment. That is, after all, the secret ingredient of a well-written pitch. And I genuinely want the business people around me to be successful. It’s good for the economy. It’s good for them. It’s good for me.
Sticking My Nose Where It Doesn’t Belong. If I know a business person and see a mistake on their website or brochure, I will let that person know. Most end up thanking me. But it’s getting past that first moment of stiff-shouldered embarrassment and unwillingness to make eye contact that’s tough. Still, I speak up.
Someone once told me, “If you can’t make a tough statement to someone you care about, when it matters, then you don’t care enough.”
Offering a critique can be a tricky thing. That’s especially true when the person receiving it isn’t expecting it. It’s even tougher when you’re not face-to-face, as in email or social networking. You can’t see the receiver’s reaction. They can’t see the sincerity in your posture or hear it in your tone of voice.
My questions to you are…
- Would you see a note from a business person pointing out a mistake as a well-intentioned attempt to help or the sign of a know-it-all big mouth?
- Would you assist another business person in an online forum by (privately) pointing out a mistake?
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6 Comments
In answering your first question, I think I would consider the source and the degree of gained respect that I have established for the party making the comment. If knowledgeable and well intentioned, I hope that I would have the good sense to be grateful for them "having my back" and offer a sincere thanks.
Yes, I would attempt to offer constructive and discrete help, If given a poor response after the first instance, I would not do so again, and if someone needed regular assistance but did not ask for my help, tact would be needed to avoid giving offence.
Bottom line, each situation is unique and should be given consideration before jumping in with unsolicited advice, even with good intentions. Just because we may appreciate professional back-up, we shouldn't automaticly assume others would.
Laura
P.S. Feel free to correct my spelling, grammar and punctuation any time
Debbie
Laura Orr says...
Hi Debbie,
In answering your first question, I think I would consider the source and the degree of gained respect that I have established for the party making the comment. If knowledgeable and well intentioned, I hope that I would have the good sense to be grateful for them "having my back" and offer a sincere thanks.
Yes, I would attempt to offer constructive and discrete help, If given a poor response after the first instance, I would not do so again, and if someone needed regular assistance but did not ask for my help, tact would be needed to avoid giving offence.
Bottom line, each situation is unique and should be given consideration before jumping in with unsolicited advice, even with good intentions. Just because we may appreciate professional back-up, we shouldn't automaticly assume others would.
Laura
P.S. Feel free to correct my spelling, grammar and punctuation any time
Debbie
Rena Parno-McClung says...
On the question of pointing out mistooks (lol)....yes, I certainly would tell the responsible party. I have done so in the past and I was complimented for doing so. The owner was thankful that the web site was not published yet because she is in the business of web site design.
You have encountered the problem that shows up for every gifted person. At times it is easy to find the power of your gift so overwhlming that you have to useit. Ihave even encountered people who have described this talent as a curse they have to live with. It's not a curse or an abnormality; it is a powerful gift though. The process or becomming all we can be to help other with our gift is learning how to use it as required, turning it on or off as need be. This is our growth with our gifts that makes it even more valuable.
My encouragment is to enjoy your struggle, noticing what iot triggers in you and learn how to self manage it as required. It's a great experience and the process will make you stronger in the long run. (no spell check reqired)
Debbie
Rich Grof says...
Hi Debbie:
You have encountered the problem that shows up for every gifted person. At times it is easy to find the power of your gift so overwhlming that you have to useit. Ihave even encountered people who have described this talent as a curse they have to live with. It's not a curse or an abnormality; it is a powerful gift though. The process or becomming all we can be to help other with our gift is learning how to use it as required, turning it on or off as need be. This is our growth with our gifts that makes it even more valuable.
My encouragment is to enjoy your struggle, noticing what iot triggers in you and learn how to self manage it as required. It's a great experience and the process will make you stronger in the long run. (no spell check reqired)
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