Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Hushed voices in the workplace and what they tell us about our workplace.

It happens around me—too often. Several persons near me in the great cubicle farm are talking in a “normal tone of voice.” Then the tone changes. They voices become hushed—almost whispers.

My “colleagues” have something to say and they don’t want me to hear it.

Sometimes there are personal, private conversations. Find the appropriate time and place for them.

The rest of the time? Sigh. What can we say about my workplace? Some persons don’t trust some other persons. Persons want to say something about other persons and don’t want the others to hear them. Persons are afraid what others will think of them when they hear what…

Speculation runs rampant. Trust? Transparency? Those are things for consultants to tout and use as sales points for their services. This is REALITY folks! People are afraid!

Let the boss know about this? No. Speak softly. The boss shouldn’t hear this. We don’t really want the boss to know what we think. Write a note on a scrap of paper and pass it under the table like we did in high school.

Like we did in high school? Like we did when we were in third grade?

Sigh.

Am I the boss? Am I the manager? Does this happen in my workplace? What am I doing to encourage this?