| Are you always giving excuses? Do you tend to | | | | running late. They have their own agenda and |
| not do what you promised, and then try to | | | | won't care. |
| justify it? Giving excuses can be a bad habit. | | | | If you haven't completed a report for a meeting, |
| Learn to say what needs to be said, and forget | | | | things can get very uncomfortable. Without |
| the rest. | | | | excuses, just admit to not having the report |
| Have you made a commitment that you cannot | | | | completed. This is would be a time to add that |
| keep, so instead of being up front you create | | | | you are confident in making your proposition |
| excuses? It's easy to do. We tend to think that | | | | anyway. Basically, what you are doing is saying |
| other people need to hear reasons for our lacking, | | | | that you have not finished, but you are still in a |
| and the reality is that most of us don't care. | | | | position to discuss the topic. You are not excusing |
| Words can interfere with just about everything, | | | | what you haven't done, but rather suggesting |
| we simply talk too much. In our talking, we | | | | they listen to what you are prepared for. |
| seldom listen, even to ourselves. How can we | | | | When you need help from someone, don't |
| change our focus? | | | | approach the subject with reasons you need help. |
| Say what you mean, but use less words. We | | | | Simply state that you have hurt yourself and you |
| tend to fill our time, and the time of others, with | | | | need to find someone who would be willing to do |
| needless conversation. It's a little like wanting to | | | | some light housekeeping for a month. The person |
| listen to ourselves talk. We spend a lot of time | | | | you have approached may either be the one you |
| rationalizing what we have done, or are going to | | | | need or may know of someone else. Giving them |
| do. The reality is that no one cares. If you have | | | | three or four reasons you are looking for help will |
| not done what you promised be honest, not | | | | not change what the other person is willing to do. |
| wordy. Don't add excuses. If you find yourself in | | | | If you have to convince them to come to your |
| this position often, simply stop making so many | | | | rescue, is that the person you really want in your |
| commitments. | | | | home? Think about it. |
| If you are in a situation where you are going to | | | | Learning to state facts, and leaving out needless |
| arrive late, do not run a list of excuses you plan | | | | conversation is great way to communicate. |
| to give, through your mind. If possible call and let | | | | Without practicing excuses all the time, you can |
| the waiting party know you will be late, period. | | | | focus on what is important, such as why you are |
| Chances are the others will not ask why you are | | | | there. |