Lessons in Reverse: Some of my best teachers unknowingly showed me how to achieve better results—by doing the OPPOSITE of what they did. I salute them!
Lessons in Reverse: How Doing the Opposite Can Lead to Better Results
Some lessons are taught, others are demonstrated. And then there are those valuable gems of wisdom we stumble upon—not because someone showed us the right way, but because they unknowingly put on a masterclass in what not to do.
To those “teachers,” I say: I salute you. Because of you, I’ve learned to navigate life with fewer headaches, fewer apologies, and a lot more efficiency.
Let’s break down the power of reverse learning, shall we?
The Anti-Mentor: Learning by Contrast
You know those people who walk into a room and immediately drain the energy out of it? Or the boss whose “motivational speech” sends everyone straight to Indeed.com? Yep, those folks have unknowingly taught me some of my most valuable leadership lessons—mainly, don’t do that.
Someone shared: I once had a manager who believed that public humiliation was an effective teaching tool. Spoiler: It was not. But from watching their approach, I learned that respect and encouragement inspire far more productivity than fear ever could. Lesson learned—just not the way they intended.
Reverse Engineering Success
Sometimes, the fastest way to figure out what works is by analyzing what fails spectacularly.
Take customer service, for example. Have you ever called a company for help and ended up angrier than when you started? (Looking at you, “Please listen carefully as our menu options have changed.”)
That frustration can teach us something: The best customer experiences are about simplicity, clarity, and actually listening. So, when we started working with clients, we can do the opposite of the robotic, scripted nonsense. And guess what? People appreciated it.
Reverse Mentors: A Personal Highlight Reel
Someone shared: I once had a colleague who responded to every email with “per my last message.” It was like a passive-aggressive soundtrack to my workday. So I made a vow: I will never use that phrase unless I’m trapped in a corporate hostage situation.
Another time, I saw someone try to “network” by name-dropping and bragging for 30 straight minutes. It was an incredible display of what not to do. The real lesson? Be curious about others, ask good questions, and stop making everything about yourself.
The Humor of Hindsight
The best part of these “reverse lessons” is that they often come with a side of humor. Looking back, some of my biggest revelations came wrapped in absolute disasters. And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.
Because sometimes, the best way to learn is to see what not to do—and then take a hard left in the opposite direction.
✍️Note to Self: Not all teachers intend to teach you. Some do it by accident. Pay attention anyway.
Your Turn
What’s a lesson you learned by doing the opposite of someone else? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your “reverse mentor” stories.
