labeling each other

Based on dozens of articles that arrived in my inbox in a single week, one might think that the majority of people work in difficult work-cultures, alongside clueless co-workers, under distrusting bosses. Here are a few examples:

• “You’re the Boss, Not the Babysitter”
• “What to Do When Your Employees Won’t Stop Whining”
• “Giving Feedback to the Clueless”
• “How to Survive a Toxic Boss”

Fortunately, most of us don’t work for or around people like these. Yet, we can create our own versions of “us” versus “them” without even realizing it. The reality is that what we focus on is what we see. When you’re thinking about buying a new car, you notice only the model you want; having a baby and you see babies; think your boss is difficult and you’ll spot behaviors reinforcing it.

People who are winning at working know that what they focus on is what they see. That can be helpful or detrimental, so they’re careful with how they describe themselves and others. They understand that labels impact how we see our world.

Take generational labels for example. There are (continue reading →)