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It never ceases to amaze me how things done ‘in private’ are exposed to the public’s eye so quickly. Just watch the nightly news to see highlights of unfathomable acts that occur right in our own back yards. It makes for a great personal reality check—one in which we should examine our own behaviors and private lives—because we never know when someone (or the world) is looking over our shoulders.
What you Read: Have you ever thought twice about throwing that racy love novel in your handbag to read on your break from work? Maybe you should. If you can’t imagine the passages out loud to your coworkers, you certainly wouldn’t want them reading it from over your shoulder. Same goes for any sort of scandalous content—from magazines, kindle books, and email articles…keep it clean, especially at the office.
What you Do: Keep your personal calendar personal and your work calendar professional. None of your fellow employees need to know when it’s time for your annual female appointment, that you have a meeting with a divorce attorney, or that it’s time to refill your prescription creams. Airing your personal schedule gives people reason to build ideas and opinions of you that you don’t have the chance to defend or explain fully. Your private life should stay just that, private.
What you See: When watching videos on your iPhone or TV, pay attention to those around you. No one deserves to see things they didn’t want to simply because you’re carrying it around on a portable device. A couple of months ago, a consultant was being interviewed at his office during a live television segment while his coworkers were working at their desks behind him. Suddenly, inappropriate images of women popped up on his coworker’s computer and it made national news. So much for good corporate PR. Thanks to a careless employee, his company now has a black eye. What you intend for your personal viewing should not be assumed so while in a public place, ie; an airport or plane, train or office setting. Always remember to keep it clean folks.
Making Etiquette Easy,
Susan K. Medina
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