Banning Compliments @Work?

"You look really nice today!"

"Is that a new hair cut?  It suits you!"

"You look like you have lost weight, good for you!"

"That dress looks really nice on you!"

"What cologne are you wearing?  Smells good!"

"That is a good color for you!  Brings out your eyes!"

There was a time that comments like this were normal camaraderie in our work places.  They were genuine words that showed signs of connecting with each other outside the humdrum of tasks and deadlines.  The words were short, sweet and basically just NICE.

There is a current debate about whether or not to compliment coworkers.  In this climate where so much has gone on in the work place, companies are not wanting to expose themselves to situations that can ruin their reputation or cause legal issues.  Things have been said  between staff members or upper management with sexual overtones,  and it has been brought to light how inappropriate it is.  People are running to figure out how to handle workplace offenses.  In many cases, people have taken the simple compliment and ruined it for others because their comments held double meaning.  So the thought is, no more compliments at work!  Are we going too far?  

IT'S NICE TO BE NICE

I think when we look at it, it is nice to be nice.   It is kind to notice people at work and to encourage them in this life.  We hear so much about the drudgery of Mondays and work weeks, deadlines and power struggles; and we spend most of our day around these folks!  We have all heard stories of how a simple compliment encouraged someone.  Simple words spoken at the right time, that actually brought tears to someone's eyes at the perfect moment.  If we are not careful, we can be setting ourselves up to miss opportunities to be effective at work.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think that your dress or tie is what helps us be effective, but our ability to connect with each other does.  Even as believers, we  look for ways to begin conversations with people- and we all know people like talking about themselves.  If we get so sensitive that we cannot openly talk to each other, trust me it will trickle down and hinder our overall ability to connect.  No one wants to talk ONLY about work, even at work.

DEAL WITH THE REAL PROBLEM!

Sometimes we over react because we don't want to really deal with the people who are actually causing the problems.  Instead we apply a general rule that makes no real sense at all - to make it look like we are addressing the issue.  Instead of banning simple compliments, we should focus on sensitivity training for staff and upper management as to how to conduct ourselves in the work place.  And when someone, anyone does not adhere to it, they become the example of what happens.   Yes, we need to deal properly with people who say things that are inappropriate,  but if the majority of  us are simply connecting to make life more pleasant  for each other in an unpleasant world, that we don't need to ban.

Action must be taken because we do have a problem... one group is guilty of UNDER-REACTING,  but we won't really help the atmosphere of our work places if we  OVERREACT.    

Proverbs 25:11