-
Business Skills
-
Personal Development
-
Leadership and Management
- For your Business
- Mind Tools Store
- Podcast
- Newsletter
- About Us
- About Mind Tools Content
- Member Stories
- FAQ
Gain essential management and leadership skills
Busy schedule? No problem. Learn anytime, anywhere.
Subscribe to unlimited access to meticulously researched, evidence-based resources.
Join today and take advantage of our 30% offer, available until May 31st.
Get 30% off
Subscribe to unlimited access to meticulously researched, evidence-based resources.
Join today and take advantage of our 30% offer, available until May 31st.
Discover something new today
Trending
How to Use AI as a Manager
Using artificial intelligence technology to support your team
Article
What's Your Leadership Style?
Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the way you like to lead
Self-Assessment
Popular
Burnout Self-Test
Check yourself for burnout
Self-Assessment
Body Language
Beyond words – How to read unspoken signals
Article
Gain essential management and leadership skills
Busy schedule? No problem. Learn anytime, anywhere.
Subscribe to unlimited access to meticulously researched, evidence-based resources.
Join today and take advantage of our 30% offer, available until May 31st.
Get 30% off
Subscribe to unlimited access to meticulously researched, evidence-based resources.
Join today and take advantage of our 30% offer, available until May 31st.
MAIN MENU
Business Skills
Personal Development
Interesting piece here. During my teenage years (and a little beyond if I have to be completely honest), I interpreted the word "don't" as "go on...try it...do it...now!!" Fortunately we get a little wiser as we grow older.
I've also watched with interest what happens when grownups tell one another 'don't do this'... One don't that seems to push particularly sensitive buttons is "don't talk to me like that". Often times the argument descends into a war of words about how one person talked to the other - the original problem completely forgotten!
Thanks for the reply, Yolande. I share your reaction. Many don'ts are viewed as "dares" and invoke reactions of, "Oh yeah? Just wait and watch!" What's likely to follow is, of course, the war of words (and let's hope not a war of actions). In other words, the don't leads to the exact opposite reaction of what the issuer wanted.
When they are less emotional, don'ts are met with our older/wiser selves responding with, "okay, thanks for the advice." Even then, however, the negativity can still dampen our enthusiasm about any topic.