 Taboo Topics: Can You Talk About Politics in the Office?
The big three:
Conventional wisdom says not to talk about sex, politics and
religion in the office. The problem is that any office, workplace or
organization is mostly made up of people and if the volume of blogs, internet
sites, magazines and other media is any indication of popularity, people love
to talk about: SEX, POLITICS AND RELIGION!
We're in the middle of the most contentious political season
anyone still alive can remember. Can we have respectful political conversations
in the workplace?
I say yes; but we need to make a few AssUmptions™. I know,
once again I'm going against conventional wisdom which says when you assume you
make an a#$ out of you, and me. I think you'll find these AssUmptions™ useful:
Not
everyone shares your point of view. The
other guy is entitled to his or her opinion. The
other guy has a rational reason for his or her opinion. Silence
does not always confirm agreement. EVERYONE
is entitled to at least two things: Thoughts & Feelings.
Carry these AssUmptions™ with you into nearly any
conversation and you can enjoy a respectful and perhaps even an informative
exchange of ideas.
You don't need a list of rules; in fact I only really
observe one rule in life; the Rule of Respect. Talking to a group of first
grade students on the subject of Respect I started by asking for a definition. Being
the expert I was just about to launch into my pre-programmed script on the
subject when one young man stood up, bowed and said, "Respect means taking care
of one another!" I'm not easily moved to tears but I had to sit down and take a
few minutes after that one! To this day I've adopted this definition of Respect
and have tried to live my life by that Rule.
As we go through the political season I will, from time to
time, interject some of my "Guidelines for Respectful Office Conversation" and
items from my "Top 10 List of Stuff You Should AVOID Doing or Saying in Office
Conversations." These are fun, but if you stick to the Rule of Respect you've
pretty well got things covered.
For now just remember two things:
1. When it's obvious that what you're doing or saying is not
"caring" for the other person, it's probably time to let it go.
2. While you're at work, remember that you're there above all:
to WORK!
Best thoughts no matter what side you're on!!!
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Power Moment
Each issue we'll feature a quick technique for developing and cultivating Personal Power in personal and professional life!
What Are Your Money Feelings Today?
 By Joan Sotkin...
Reprinted with permission from Joan's "Prosperity Quick Tips"
Regularly checking in with your money feelings can
prevent financial stagnation--that feeling that you just can't seem to move
through your current financial position into a new one.
No matter how
much emotional clearing you have done, there's always another layer of emotions
lying in wait, ready to hold you back. That's because emotions are the bridge
between our internal and external worlds. As you move towards a new
financial position, the habitual emotions that have defined your current
position have to be replaced by new emotional reponses that are in tune with
where you want to be.
So, when you check in with yourself today,
what are you feeling about your money? Are you feeling frustrated, limited,
trapped, deprived, or angry? Or perhaps you feel satisfied with what you have,
comfortable with what you are earning, or hopeful about your financial
future.
What you are feeling has a direct affect on what you will bring
into your life, and that incudes your cash flow.
Do
this:
Close you eyes and take a deep breath in and out. Think about something
financial that you have been dealing with.
As you do this, put your attention in your heart, then your solar plexus.
Notice if you are feeling any discomfort.
If there is any discomfort, ask yourself, "What am I feeling and is this
something I have felt before?"
Now ask yourself, "What are my options?" What could you be feeling instead?
How can you feel more hopeful about where you are going financially?
Take a deep breath and imagine the situation that would allow the alternate
feelings to flow through you and let yourself feel those feelings.
Each time you have to deal wih your finances, go through this
exercise, reperceiving discomfort and learning a new set of money
feelings.
Resources:
The Be Set Free Manual that I wrote with clinical psychologist Larry Nims, has
many easy-to-follow exercises that can help you alter your emotional responses.
Click here to read more about this innovative technique!
The CDs
Healing Your Financial Shame and Let Go of the Aloneness Blocking Your Prosperity will teach you how to get in touch with
these common money feelings and how to release and replace them.
My book
Build Your Money Muscles has a lot of information that can help you establish a new
financial identity.
Visit Joan's website: www.ProsperityPlace.com!
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| Power Motivator!
"Tomorrow I will live, the fool does say; today itself's too late, the wise lived yesterday."
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