The Workplace

please lang po walang personalan...

“Walang personalan, trabaho lang!” [Literal translation: Nothing personal, it's only my job!]

That is a movie-popularized Filipino line that is use by bosses, employees, clients or someone who are doing business in the Philippine business and corporate community. I guess OFW’s, expats and other nationalities are using this line too!

Mostly someone uses this when he feels like he will offend someone  as he acts on a delicate & grave action plan that may affect badly certain individuals in the company or in the business transaction.

To be blunt about it – I don’t believe in this saying!

There is no such thing as job without personal-emotional involvement. All of us are hurt or offended when certain actions are implemented in our workplaces that is unfavorable to us.

There was a study that says “performance in work are directly proportional to the corporate emotional environment.”  Meaning, when you don’t feel good in your workplace due to unfavorable interpersonal relationships, your job’s prowess diminishes – worst you may want to resign & find another job which you think the emotional environment is favorable to you (if there is such a workplace).

We cannot really have a workplace that is always tranquil, but should you wanting to maintain a peaceful inner-self in any kind of workplace environment, let me suggest the following:

• Make every effort to live in peace with all men… (Hebrews 12: 14a)

How will you do it?

• So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. (Romans 14: 19)
• But if ever you just can’t help to say something that might hurt someone be TACTFUL:  Say the right words in the right time and in the right place!

Lastly, let me share with you a passage that is timeless in having good relationship with other people, in workplaces or in any other places: …be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…( James 1: 19b)