In What Got You Here Won’t Get You There , Marshall Goldsmith identifies 20 of what he calls “transactional flaws performed by one erson against others” that make the workplace “substantially more noxious than it needs to be.” Here are several of them:Adding too much value: The overwhelming desire to add your two cents every time. This is a subtle version of “I can top that.”
Responding to a comment with “No,” “But,” or “However”: Using negative qualifiers that send the message “I’m right, you’re wrong” or “You don’t fully understand.”
Telling the world how smart you are: Especially when you suspect that people think you are not as smart as you think you are.
Negativity or “Let me explain why that won’t work”: A need to share negative thoughts even when not asked for an opinion. Masters of this flaw often praise an idea first, then play the devil’s advocate and attack it, denigrating (if not humiliating) the person who offered it. Better yet of they don’t realize it until later.
Making Excuses: You are never at fault, always a victim of circumstances or conspiracies.
Clinging to the past: A subset of blaming others and events in the past, sometimes all the way back to the Garden of Eden.
Not listening attentively: The most passive-aggressive form of disrespect.
You may also wish to check out Goldsmith’s book and his Web sites: