Lessons from Michael Scott: Be careful HOW you say it

I really like the TV show The Office. If you’re like me, during the summer, you start to have The Office withdrawal. This summer is even worse since Office fans are reeling with the news that Michael Scott will not be returning next season. (Apparently James Spader will be his replacement.) So, to help you with your summer fix, I’ve decide to write a series of posts on lessons we can learn from Michael Scott.

Lesson #1 Be very careful how you say it
Taken from season 4, episode 1: “Fun Run”

Michael Scott: Ladies and gentleman, I have some bad news. Meredith was hit by a car.
Oscar: Where?
Michael Scott: It happened this morning in the parking lot. I took her to the hospital. And the doctors tried to save her, life, they did the best they could. And she is going to be ok.
Stanley: What is wrong with you? Why would you have to phrase is like that?

Wow! That’s funny. And kind of wrong. Did you ever let something slip out of your mouth that you immediately wish you could take back? I know I have. Or maybe it wasn’t what you said, like Michael, it was how you said it? I’ve done that too.

When I am out of country, I can’t help but notice how many of us Americans do this. We come in with a view that our way is better, and let it out by our expressions. Like, we will find out what the other country doesn’t have, or doesn’t do like us, and add a look of concern. “You don’t have plumbing in your house?" said with sympathetic look. Or, “You don’t own a car?” said with incredulous look. Or what I said last week: “this food is great!” followed by slight gag reflex. The trouble is, the words may be fine, but the way we say them leave a person feeling something else.

Have you ever done this?