We’re all about being a team player and getting to know your coworkers. One of our non-negotiables is “sharing and receiving openly”. We encourage business developers to share customers to become a center of influence. We encourage team members to share successes and new ideas. Sharing is good, right? Not always. Here is a list of 10 things we think far too many employees share, but upon further review should be keeping these things to themselves. In other words… Stop Sharing!!!
- Salary Information – If you work in the HR department and you’re sharing this kind of info, you might be in the wrong job. Just got hired? Try not telling everyone around you what you’re getting paid. If we have to explain this further, there’s probably not much we can do for you.
- Medical History – Just because someone asks how you’re doing doesn’t mean they’re asking for the latest details about pharmaceutical purchases and various ointments and salves you’re currently using. If there is a sick child, parent, etc. briefly fill them in.
- Work Complaints – No one is forcing you to work where you’re working. Try offering a solution with every complaint or critique and people will take what you say a little more seriously.
- Social Media – Facebook, text messaging, cell phone conversations, you name it. Stop sharing the company time with others who are not working for your company. Turn the iPhones off. If someone needs you for an emergency, odds are, your organization has a phone. Spending company time on things having nothing to do with the company and taking away from productive work is considered by some to be theft.
- Weekend Exploits – You wouldn’t think this needed to be stated but it’s amazing the number of people that think it’s necessary to share the details of their weekend exploits. Tell us about taking the kids to a movie over the weekend… perfect! Tell us about a wild party or bar-hopping exploits… not good. If you’re doing this… stop it!
- Personal Problems/Relationships – If the producers of COPS had a film crew at your house last night, keep it to yourself. If your spouse’s mom moved in last week… we don’t need to hear the details, unless it’s a happy story… but what are the odds of that?!
- Negative Views of Colleagues – If you have an issue, share and receive openly. Go to the person you have the issue with or go to your supervisor. Don’t go to 10 of your closest coworkers.
- Tasteless Comments and Jokes – Men and women alike, be careful what you say. You never know when something is being recorded or overheard by someone around the corner. These types of things put you and the organization at risk.
- Negative Attitudes – If you’re too sick to smile and be in a professional mood, then you’re too sick to be at work. Negative attitudes are contagious and must be eliminated immediately.
- Gossip – Listening to gossip is the same as sharing gossip. Either stop the person who is gossiping or walk away. It will send a message that you have no interest in it. Also, keep in mind that gossips tend to gossip about everyone… even you.
Have anything to add to the list? Let us know. Doing anything on the list? Then stop sharing and get ready to be amazed at the additional time you’ll have for productive activities.
