The Value of Information Can Be Significant or Zero

Its measure lies in the grasp of human nature. The same words, when spoken by some, earn goodwill; by others, they make enemies. Spoken at the right moment, they become meaningful information. At the wrong moment, their information content is zero.

Handling information is a delicate craft, because at every step you must consider what the other person is thinking, what they have, what they want, and what they are willing to give up.

When there's credit to be had, everyone rushes to claim it; when there's blame to bear, everyone shifts it away. This is what we call scrambling for praise and passing the buck for fault.