On Speaking Positively

Come on, I know you heard it from your parents or teachers: “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” That’s good advice with immense implications for ethical behavior. Speaking positively creates an atmosphere of hope, of safety, and of trust. These are all vital to being able to openly explore moral issues and our resulting behaviors. Where negative attitudes are the norm, people expect everything to be wrong. Negative talk seems constantly judgmental. Is that you? Is that your workplace? Stop it.

Repeat this: Starting with me, there will be a positive outlook around here. I will speak the good word.

On Gossip

OSHA never talks about one of the big dangers in the workplace; and that’s gossip. Gossip eats away at morale, trust, and enjoyment at work. Oh, I know you would never gossip. As a matter of fact, you’ve probably complained about people that do. But what do you do about gossip? Gossip will only stop when there is no one to listen to it. What if every time someone began talking about someone else you were to say, "Sorry, I feel uncomfortable talking about her when she’s not here," and then skillfully changed the subject?

Repeat this: Starting with me, gossip will no longer have a listening ear.