I have observed that one of the problems we have with society today is that parents don’t teach respect and behavior that parents from eons past insisted their children learn.  In no time at all those children grow up to be adults and parents.  If they haven’t learned manners and respect, they don’t pass it along to their children.  Therefore, we have the society we have today.  Some of these lessons relate to life or to how to conduct business. But it extends even further within your business to the employee who answers the phone, the sales people, customer service representatives, the marketing staff and even the individuals who water the plants and clean the bathrooms.

Like many Americans, I have been watching and reading about the Vancouver Olympics.  One of the most highly watched series during the Olympics is ice skating.  There is usually some sort of drama associated with the Olympic skating events and this year isn’t any different.

Here are two extreme examples regarding behavior.  In the recent men’s skating competition the American skater, Evan Lysacek, edged out the Russian skater and 2006 Olympic champion, Yevgeny Plushenko, by a small margin.  Even though I am not an expert in skating, listening to the skating commentary from NBC’s Scott Hamilton (an Olympic, World and National champion himself) it was clear that although Plushenko skated well Lysacek’s program was more difficult and better executed and deserved to win.  Unfortunately, Plushenko acted badly in interviews afterwards by allowing his ego to get in the way and showed the entire world he did not skate with the true spirit of the games in mind – which is simply to do your best, be your best and act as a representative of your country.  When asked about Plushenko’s comments, Lysachek was quite gracious, praising the Russian, saying he had looked up to him as a role model in skating and Plushenko will always one of the best in the world.  How impressive and refreshing to hear Lysachek speak so highly, so respectful of a world class competitor even though the competitor was really quite unprofessional with his statements.

The other example is from the ice dancing competition.  The American team of Belbin and Agosto, Silver medalists in the 2006 Olympic Games, just missed the podium and a Bronze medal after what may have been their last competitive dance together.  Belbin and Agosto, like Plushenko, are highly respected and recognized for what they have brought to the sport.  Each has led the way for other future skaters with their overall excellence.  When interviewed Belbin and Agosto, though reflective, had prepared for such a moment and felt the dance they performed was a fitting good-bye, had done their best and were satisfied with the results.  They only had gracious words for the Russian team who took third place.

This is where momma’s advice was right on target.  Momma would say:  If you can’t say something nice about somebody, don’t say anything at all.

Good advice that extends to business.  Never say anything bad about a competitor, a former employee or an associate.  You never know when or where you will meet these people again.  You may want to sell them a product.  You may see them at a professional gathering. And the last thing you want is to have other business people or even customers/clients make judgments about you or your company because of your negative responses.