Are you who you're telling the world you are?

Communication is how we share information; however, it extends far beyond what we say. How we appear, the decisions we make, the language we use, the lack of communication, the intonation of our voice, the media we use, are all sending various messages about ourselves, our thoughts, our opinions, and our intents. For this reason, in a professional space, we need to be cautious and mindful about how we are conducting ourselves. A comment in an unofficial capacity, poor appearance, or unconscientious body language could negatively mold a supervisor’s impression, cause a member of a team to feel isolated or excluded, or generate contempt toward a policy.

My future communications are going to be much more cautious. I often carry myself very lightheartedly, I enjoy laughing, joking, and having fun. However, I now recognize while that may contribute to helping create a positive workspace, it could also isolate an individual or individuals within the space. It could also have a negative impact on the impression others have, being too lighthearted could communicate a message that meeting our objectives is not a serious goal, or following a company safety policy is not important, or only people that enjoy fun filled conversations are important. It’s important the various aspects of communication are a true depiction of ourselves and we’re not unintentionally mispresenting ideas, beliefs, or opinions.