An old poster some still have on their office wall called “A Short Course in Human Relations”  goes like this:

The SIX most important words:  “I admit I made a mistake”

The FIVE most important words:  “You did a good job”

The FOUR most important words:  “What is your opinion”

The THREE most important words:  “If you please”

The TWO most important words:  “Thank you”

The ONE most important word:  “We”

The LEAST most important word:  “I”

In my searches to find the origin, I came across a blog that told a story from the 1980s.  The author first saw the poster on her boss’ office wall.  The boss noticed she was studying it and said, “You know that’s not the whole course.  There is also the SEVEN most important words, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out.’  Now you know the complete course.”

What keeps people from saying these phrases and practicing their intent?   Perhaps they aren’t telling themselves the EIGHT most important words: “I have the courage to say these words.”

Now you know the complete revised course.  Here it is again:

The EIGHT most important words:  “I have the courage to say these words.”

The SEVEN most important words:  “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

The SIX most important words:  “I admit I made a mistake”

The FIVE most important words:  “You did a good job”

The FOUR most important words:  “What is your opinion”

The THREE most important words:  “If you please”

The TWO most important words:  “Thank you”

The ONE most important word:  “We”

The LEAST most important word:  “I”