SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017 - 36

Perspectives
Steven Rodgers
Consultant, EmergenTek LLC
Steven.R@EmergenTek.com

7 Reasons I Hate
Numbered Lists

". . . either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing." - Benjamin Franklin
Once again we find ourselves in the position of facing into a new calendar year. This new beginning is often marked
by the tradition of making New Year's resolutions. It is an early opportunity for us to advise ourselves on the steps
we need to take to become more successful, complete or otherwise healthy. Advice can be a funny thing. Often it goes
unheeded, even when solicited. I discovered something peculiar early in my career as a consultant: Even though people
may pay you for your advice, some are more interested in having somebody else to blame for their failure than they are
in taking the steps to insure their success.
In the last few years, advice has taken a bit of a turn. With the increase in professional social media sites and magazines
seeking content from "regular contributors", the giving of advice has become a method of promoting oneself. It is offered
in blogs, magazines and on social media sites with the intent to build a network of followers. It is not all bad advice. Not
at all. But it often takes the form of numbered lists.
And I am tired of numbered lists. I suppose numbered lists began with the Ten Commandments, but they were really
more commandments than simply advice. I began to be aware of numbered lists when Steven Covey published his book
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
I guess it isn't the actual thought of a numbered list that bothers me. We use numbered lists a lot in our daily lives.
What bothers me is the concept of the numbered list as an attention-grabbing title for self-promotion. The concept is
too formulaic. It is as if a respected publisher announced that if you give "12 steps . . ." or "8 reasons . . ." or "16 things
that could happen if you . . ." then people will be intrigued enough to read the list and voilĂ , your name will become a
household word.
Social media and magazines alike are full of such articles. So here are the 7 reasons I have grown tired of numbered lists:
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

The actual number used in a headline sometimes seems rather arbitrary. Are there really "6 Things You Should
Never Say To Your Boss"? Without breaking a sweat I came up with 13 things and none of them were even on that
list. Perhaps I leaned too heavily on my own experience.
At times it is apparent that the author has not shared everything. A title like "6 Things I Have Wanted To Tell My
Co-Workers But Decided Against Doing So" certainly implies that in the interest of preserving those relationships
there are probably a few thoughts that have not been revealed.
Sometimes it looks like the author made up a few items in order to come up with a more impressive looking
list. "21 Office Behaviors That Your Co-Workers Find Offensive" is an attention grabbing headline. However, do
we really need to be told that ridiculing the people in the co-worker's photographs may set that person off? Maybe
we could just settle for 20 offensive office behaviors. Or 18. Or 6.
Some authors start with obvious observations hoping to build to an impressive "big finish". Overstating the
obvious can be a dangerous beginning. Perhaps they do not realize how easy it is to "turn the page" when one's
hand is already resting on the computer mouse.
Some topics are just stupid. Do I really need to elaborate?

So if you want to reinforce your reputation by giving public advice, there are really only 5 things you need to keep in mind:
1.
2.

6.

Pick your topic carefully. Topics should be important, timely and relevant.
Speak honestly from a position of expertise. Don't deal with topics you don't really understand. Either your
audience will see through you or they are not worthy of having as followers.
Be certain that the advice you share is yours to give. Do you have a unique perspective? Have you seen something
that others may have missed?
Keep it concise.
Keep it interesting. It has been said that everybody has a book in them. I have never heard it said that everybody
should actually write that book, or that anybody would really read it.
Share generously. You will only attract a following if there is real value to the advice you share.

36

SAMPE Journal, Volume 53, No. 1, January/February 2017

3.
4.
5.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017

Contents
SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017 - Cover1
SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017 - Cover2
SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017 - Contents
SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017 - 2
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