Sunday, June 2, 2013

Focus

I have been trying to apply all that I know about treating others with dignity and respect in my work place. It is more challenging than when you deal with your neighbours, strangers in the community and people you gather with to share a common interest. It seems like the people that I work with are more comfortable being negative, criticizing others and focusing on what everyone is doing wrong. This doesn't fit with what we do for a living, help others! I find it really easy to fall into this behaviour pattern when I am there. As soon as the words are out of mouth I regret them, I need to create a filter to kick in before I talk.
I have been pondering the problem and I think that I was approaching it from the wrong angle. I was complaining to myself about the negativity and not thinking about what I was doing to contribute to it  or thinking about how to change the atmosphere. I don't like when others make negative assumptions about my intentions but don't say anything and don't say anything when it is done to others which is contributing to the problem and not changing anything.
So my new focus is on what I am contributing, am I having a positive impact on my environment? Do I leave dignity in my wake? Do people I talk to feel respected?
I have been working on this for a while now and have seen some positive results, I will continue to be mindful of my words and thoughts at work :)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I find that negative people only really have one mental path to walk down and it normally comes from assumption. I give them optional points of view that are less negative that challenge the way they look at things. It does not necessarily change who the are but they bother me less with hearsay and assumption because I don't encourage it.