Taking the high road always matters and, it can’t be said enough, what you do and what you say impacts your credibility in very tangible ways.

I was unfortunately reminded of this last week. An individual significantly embellished a situation when describing a competitive alternative – so much so that this could only be characterized as blatant mudslinging in an attempt to make said person, and their position, look better.

In a matter of moments, as my ears adjusted to hearing this outrageous exaggeration, my respect for said person plummeted to the dungeon.

What this statement also told me was that this person had absolutely no other tools in his | her toolbox than to pull out perhaps the most high-impact (in a bad way) tool of all – that of criticizing and degrading another individual for one’s own gain.

This incident isn’t isolated. In the course of my career, I have interviewed hundreds, of job candidates for numerous client organizations. If a candidate has only one way to make herself look good – to disparage former workmates, bosses, projects or whatever else one can criticize – a big question mark looms over my head: “Doesn’t she have any accomplishments of her own?”

Basically, the candidate is telling me in not so many words that she doesn’t take accountability for her shortcomings (and we all have them).

“Candidate” becomes “reject” and, moreover, earns no credibility with me whatsoever.

It’s not just wannabe employees that make this mistake. I have watched seasoned vendors employ the despicable tactic of cutting down the competition. And while this person’s arguments may have merit, I lose all respect. It just comes off like they have not one arrow in their quiver but to bad-mouth those perceived as competitors.

It’s sloppy.

It’s lazy.

And, it’s unprofessional.

Such bad-mouthing is at odds with integrity.

There really is no place for it.

The high road is the ONLY path good leaders should take.

The temptation will always exist to take the shortcut or what appears to be the path of least resistance. But, that easy path is littered with blame, slander, and finger-pointing. It also results in a bad impression of your character.

Know your value. Remember: You have a brand, too – your personal brand. How you behave and what you say is a reflection of that brand. When in doubt, just leave it out or, as your grandmother probably taught you, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”