It’s Latin, innit.
Give praise where it’s deserved. And don’t add conditions.
Let the buyer beware.
A nifty little way of saying that commercial law is not on your side, Mr Consumer, and unless whatever you are buying comes with an express warranty in your contract, you are on your own if it doesn’t work out as you thought it might.
That’s what caveats are all about, aren’t they?
A warning.
A proviso.
Stipulations, conditions, limitations.
And that is what I want to talk about today.
The caveats that come with company culture and the caveat emptor that makes them your problem even if they are not your fault.
And specifically, the caveats that come with how your culture handles feedback and praise.
“A perfect ten is for God” was a very common line from teachers at my school when I was growing up, and I have heard just as many industry bosses say they don’t give out praise because they have high standards and nothing is quite good enough.
What utter bull.
They mean it though.
You hear them at town halls and company announcements, interviews and panels…
