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Ignored at Work? Try the “Two-And-Done” Rule
Arguing your point too much actually reduces your chance of getting it across
The following is an excerpt from a recent edition of The Mad Ned Memo that discussed job security tips for high-tech workers. It is being provided as a highlight for Medium subscribers, but be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you want ad-free and cost-free memos like this delivered directly to your inbox!
I’ve been employed as a Computer Engineer for the past 35 years, and have been lucky enough not to have been laid off or miss a paycheck during that time. While it is admittedly mostly luck, there are a few things I learned along the way that I think helped, and this one is one of my favorites.
The “Two-And-Done” Rule as I call it was something that did not occur to me until I was almost in my 50’s, and I really wish I had come up with it earlier because it probably would have helped me in a lot of past situations.
It has to do with how to handle disagreements that come up at work. In my younger days, I would have a pretty strong desire to always have the right answer to things, and also to be seen as someone who has the right answer to things. When I got into situations where I thought I was right about something that others disagreed with, I would…