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Off-Limits Topics of Business Conversations
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Sep 27, 2023
This video is part of our professional development series focused on career paths, networking, resume and cover letter, interviewing, and performing in the organization. This series compliments our business and law lecture series. Visit https://TheBusinessProfessor.com for more information. Jason Mance Gordon The Business Professor
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Continuing with our series of moving up in the organization tips and techniques, I want
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to talk to you about conversations and off-limit topics that you should not bring up in conversations
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in the business environment just because of the negative perception that can result from
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them and the conflicts or disputes that can result from there. To start with religion, never make assumptions about somebody's religious beliefs or their
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tendencies associated with beliefs. It can be extremely offensive and honestly, you can cause someone to extreme discomfort
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being around you. Just avoid religion generally. Politics, again, make no assumptions
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You can greatly offend someone by making broader random statements. Don't do political activism that way in a situation where it's inappropriate and oftentimes
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the business place it is inappropriate. Try to avoid that. Intimate personal lives
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Be careful about what you offer up to others It can be perceived as negative or low class to offer up too much or crude or it can be
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extremely ill received. Also be careful about how far you dig into the personal lives of others
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Even though someone feels – seems as though they want to talk about it, even if you listen
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in that way. In the emotional state that they're in, if they express too much to you, it can create
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an awkward situation going forward. So in many situations, it's good to be sympathetic but don't try to dig further and bring out
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more information. Again it can backfire considerably. Use caution when discussing sports topics
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Again, as I mentioned in a previous video, there are studies out there that show that
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adamant fans of specific sports teams actually wish misfortune on the fans of rival teams
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With that in mind if people have that strong a feeling about sports no matter how ridiculous that is that you would wish poor or misfortune on other people based on their affiliation with a sports
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team, it's just something to avoid if you're not certain about it
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Try not to be conflictive in that way. Yes, you can listen. Yes, you can make conversation about the topic but again, try to avoid conflict or statements
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that can offend people. Careful talking about people's family. If people are complaining about their family, do not join in
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Do not reinforce. Simply say you understand. If you think it's polite to listen, continue to listen but again, do not join in
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Personal demographics. Never ask people about that. I've had many people tell me in the past and report that there's actually a number of committee
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videos out there about how people ask other people what's their nationality or where they're
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from and things like that. That can be offensive to people. So if people want to offer that kind of information up allow them to but don directly ask It can be unreceived Other tips don eavesdrop on others Again sometimes it unavoidable to overhear things
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But certainly if you do overhear things like that, don't repeat it
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Individuals who gossip are perceived as such. And individuals to whom you gossip know that if you gossip about someone else, you gossip about them
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So avoid that. And avoid asking for personal favors that are not needed or direct
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Don't ask for everyone in your office to buy your kids Girl Scout cookies
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Don't ask for donations to a charity or things like that. Things that put a social pressure on someone like that
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Again, it can be ill received and people if they want to participate, you might announce
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something like that. But certainly, don't put them in a position where they feel pressured about that
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Well, those are just general communication techniques to avoid off-limit topics to remember
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that can help you appear more professional in the work environment
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