We have all heard people say, when they make a decision we don’t like, that “it’s not personal.” Generally they mean “it’s about the facts of the situation, it’s not about who you are as a person.” Usually this is a bit of a fib. In venture capital it’s often a big lie.
We like to say “it’s not personal” because this approach makes it easier for the other person to accept a bad outcome, reducing the risk of a messy, emotional discussion. The Godfather, the original mob melodrama, made this communication strategy iconic. The Corleones frequently explain that “it’s not personal” when they decide to threaten and kill people.
