The Power Of Words... Or Is It Tone?
"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails." -- John Maxwell
Regardless of the era from which you were raised, you may have heard your parents or another adult say, "it's important to go to school so you can get a good job." But, what you didn't hear as often, if at all, was how to handle the power of words, the richness of tone, and the camaraderie of bullying "within the workplace."
Yes, I said workplace. We advocate for anti-bullying for our youth, we stand together for shared values, yet we constantly turn the other cheek when we see, hear, or experience bullying by peers, clients and/or administration. But why? Why should it be any different? Isn't the impact and the aftermath just as important, prevalent and irreprehensible as with a child? Should age really matter? I think not.
The reality is it's just as illegal, unethical, and morally wrong regardless of age, gender, title/position, etc... No one deserves to be bullied and feel less than. We look across the span of life from infancy to the senior years and we often wonder what experiences made them the person they are today? What did they go through to help them endure and succeed and/or fall short of their goals and dreams?
We look at the development and the core areas of one's life, understanding that each area is interdependent of the next and wonder how one "character building" day at the hands of another can possibly cause so much grief, turmoil or listless state...
Emotional Well-Being (eg. depression, isolation, fear) has the potential to impact and/or affect other aspects of one's life: Family (eg. how they treat/interact with their spouses, children, loved ones); Physical Well-Being (eg. overeating, undereating, loss of exercise); Career (eg. termination, low job performance, stress); Spirituality (eg. belief in self, belief in a higher being, faith); and the list goes on, and on, and on...
So the question is... what do we do? We educate others on the continuous maltreatment of others and existence that bullying in the workplace is alive and well and NOT to be tolerated! We advocate for others who can't stand up for themselves. We make a conscious choice to speak up and stick to our values and not minimize the seriousness of a threat, a remark, or a command while paying close attention to not only the words but also the tone. Is it appropriate? Is it professional? And, is it constructive?
If we, as a community, can train on harassment (be it sexual or any other), than we can and should certainly make an amendment to add bullying to the list of things not to be tolerated both within and outside the workplace. They go hand in hand and is just as important.
The time to do something is now! Often times the stand we take is one of immediacy (eg. hospitalization, medical leave, or seeking new employment) but is that the only answer? I think not. I think it's one solution but they're are several others to the increasing problem that's within the taboo of "hear no evil, speak no evil" or "workplace secrets."
Another solution is to take a stand and advocate for what's right, make its presence known so others left behind or those to follow will not have to endure the horrific wrath by another based on the position, prestige, or popularity within the agency, program, project, and/or community. Remember, part of being is.. Service To Others, which is also another core area of a person's life within the Mahogany Vida Blueprint of Success System; so why not start with yourself. Don't you deserve it! Stand tall, act now, and embrace your Mahogany Vida!
© 2011 Mahogany Vida Enterprises, LLC
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it.
Author, Speaker, & Certified Success Coach - De Vida Bell - teaches people with "busy" schedules and "active" lifestyles how to balance their personal, professional and private life creating increased self-worth, growth and freedom. Visit http://mahoganyvida.com for more information or follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mahoganyvida. Discover tips on how to maintain balance between your personal, professional and private life by getting her FREE monthly ezine Lifestyle 'N Motion at http://www.mcssl.com/app/join.asp?merchantid=159227 .
Regardless of the era from which you were raised, you may have heard your parents or another adult say, "it's important to go to school so you can get a good job." But, what you didn't hear as often, if at all, was how to handle the power of words, the richness of tone, and the camaraderie of bullying "within the workplace."
Yes, I said workplace. We advocate for anti-bullying for our youth, we stand together for shared values, yet we constantly turn the other cheek when we see, hear, or experience bullying by peers, clients and/or administration. But why? Why should it be any different? Isn't the impact and the aftermath just as important, prevalent and irreprehensible as with a child? Should age really matter? I think not.
The reality is it's just as illegal, unethical, and morally wrong regardless of age, gender, title/position, etc... No one deserves to be bullied and feel less than. We look across the span of life from infancy to the senior years and we often wonder what experiences made them the person they are today? What did they go through to help them endure and succeed and/or fall short of their goals and dreams?
We look at the development and the core areas of one's life, understanding that each area is interdependent of the next and wonder how one "character building" day at the hands of another can possibly cause so much grief, turmoil or listless state...
Emotional Well-Being (eg. depression, isolation, fear) has the potential to impact and/or affect other aspects of one's life: Family (eg. how they treat/interact with their spouses, children, loved ones); Physical Well-Being (eg. overeating, undereating, loss of exercise); Career (eg. termination, low job performance, stress); Spirituality (eg. belief in self, belief in a higher being, faith); and the list goes on, and on, and on...
So the question is... what do we do? We educate others on the continuous maltreatment of others and existence that bullying in the workplace is alive and well and NOT to be tolerated! We advocate for others who can't stand up for themselves. We make a conscious choice to speak up and stick to our values and not minimize the seriousness of a threat, a remark, or a command while paying close attention to not only the words but also the tone. Is it appropriate? Is it professional? And, is it constructive?
If we, as a community, can train on harassment (be it sexual or any other), than we can and should certainly make an amendment to add bullying to the list of things not to be tolerated both within and outside the workplace. They go hand in hand and is just as important.
The time to do something is now! Often times the stand we take is one of immediacy (eg. hospitalization, medical leave, or seeking new employment) but is that the only answer? I think not. I think it's one solution but they're are several others to the increasing problem that's within the taboo of "hear no evil, speak no evil" or "workplace secrets."
Another solution is to take a stand and advocate for what's right, make its presence known so others left behind or those to follow will not have to endure the horrific wrath by another based on the position, prestige, or popularity within the agency, program, project, and/or community. Remember, part of being is.. Service To Others, which is also another core area of a person's life within the Mahogany Vida Blueprint of Success System; so why not start with yourself. Don't you deserve it! Stand tall, act now, and embrace your Mahogany Vida!
© 2011 Mahogany Vida Enterprises, LLC
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it.
Author, Speaker, & Certified Success Coach - De Vida Bell - teaches people with "busy" schedules and "active" lifestyles how to balance their personal, professional and private life creating increased self-worth, growth and freedom. Visit http://mahoganyvida.com for more information or follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mahoganyvida. Discover tips on how to maintain balance between your personal, professional and private life by getting her FREE monthly ezine Lifestyle 'N Motion at http://www.mcssl.com/app/join.asp?merchantid=159227 .
Posted by De Vida Bell at 12/3/2011 10:23 PM 
Categories: Spirituality, Physical Well-Being, Employment, Education, Social Well-Being, Emotional Well-Being, Housing, Finances, Family, Service to Others
Categories: Spirituality, Physical Well-Being, Employment, Education, Social Well-Being, Emotional Well-Being, Housing, Finances, Family, Service to Others
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