Painted Into a Corner?

Before you start painting, think of the consequences.

We’ve all been there. The question is, What are you going to do about it? Whining doesn’t help. So fix it.

There’s really no excuse for literally marooning yourself behind a sea of wet paint.

But it does happen. (Trust me.) Just pray it’s fast-drying.

Neither is there much excuse for self-inflicted wounds such as sticking your foot in your mouth or getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar. But they also happen.

Even at the Rio Olympics. U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte apparently went on a drunken and destructive binge after winning gold, and soccer star Hope Solo berated the Swedes who knocked Team USA out of the competition.

But it’s most prevalent in the workplace. Why?

First, because that’s where we most regularly come into contact with others. Too often some of us say things that we consider cute, flattering, or harmless, but that the recipient finds offensive.

Second, because that’s where the money is. Where there’s money, there’s temptation. And where there’s temptation, some people can’t resist.

At best, it leaves you with some ‘splainin’ to do. At worst, you may find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit or a jail sentence.

Doing it is bad enough. Compounding it is worse, as one client did. It fired a longtime partner for egregious sexual innuendoes and actions. But it relented and brought him back. Ostensibly other partners felt sorry because he had no other way to support his family. They also really didn’t want to lose the huge flow of new business he created. The recipient of the unwanted attention was livid and filed a lawsuit big enough to break the company.

The lesson: Always think of the consequences.

It helps to remember these two rules from pop psychology:

If you do something dumb, you’ll pay the price.

If something can go wrong, it will.

For a deeper glimpse into our world, see our book on Amazon, A Lawyer’s Guide to Crisis PR: Protecting Your Clients In & From the Media.

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You can reach Roger Gillott and Eden Gillott directly at 310-396-8696.

Gillott Communications is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm that specializes in high-stakes Crisis & Reputation Management with more than 50 years of expertise in strategic communications, corporate public relations, and working with the media.