"He said, 'You can always call them an asshole tomorrow.' Really good piece of advice. So, never in anger, respond to that email. You're always going to regret it if you criticize someone by name; it's going to come back and bite you."
"I think empathy gives you a competitive edge because there's far too many people that don't try and understand the other perspective. Just don't be a jerk to people."
"At first, she said she had a self-described 'very rude response' to the idea of being empathetic toward someone causing her problems. But stepping back and viewing the situation from the investor's perspective, she said, ultimately led to a breakthrough."
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser credits legendary investor Warren Buffett with two key leadership lessons for managing difficult workplace situations. First, Buffett advised never responding to challenging emails in anger, suggesting one can address the person's behavior later when emotions have settled. Second, he emphasized praising employees by name for good work while criticizing by category rather than singling out individuals for failures. Fraser applied these principles when facing pressure from an activist investor, initially wanting to respond rudely but instead choosing empathy and understanding the investor's perspective. This approach led to a breakthrough and reinforced Fraser's belief that empathy provides competitive advantage. She summarizes the core principle as simply not being disrespectful to people.
#leadership-advice #workplace-communication #emotional-intelligence #executive-mentorship #conflict-resolution
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