Susan Scott |
Scott coaches CEOs, so it makes sense that she uses a business illustration to reach her target audience. Consider the differences between these two statements:
- I know you want more time to complete the project, but the deadline is looming. You want me to help out in Boston, but I only have a small window in which to make some critical things happen in Seattle. I'd like to help you, but I have no easy choices right now. You seem stressed, but I expect you to deliver this project on time with minimal involvement on my part.
- I know you want more time to compete the project and the deadline is looming. You want me to help out in Boston, and I only have a small window in which to make some critical things happen in Seattle. I'd like to help you, and I have no easy choices right now. You seem stressed, and I expect you to deliver this project on time with minimal involvement on my part.
A few years later, I'm still thinking about it and find that examples abound way beyond the business world, too. Today's installment comes from a paragraph giving background on adoption in the culture to which the Apostle Paul wrote:
"The child... could now use the term 'Abba' ('Daddy'),
a strong but intimate word
used only by children with their father."
It's a sentence that could really use an upgrade from "but" to "and."
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