by Christine Masssie

Created on: July 02, 2009

Tips on appropriate topics of casual conversation in the workplace

Between the rise of political correctness and the dawn of the social networking phenomena, it's hard to navigate what is appropriate sharing in the workplace. These days, workers can spend as much or even more time with their coworkers as they do with their own families. The lines between friend and coworker can get blurry, but it's important to remember that everything that you say and do in the workplace, reflects on your ability to be an asset to the organization that you work for. This is where you exchange all your talents for a paycheck; success (or failure) is a result of all of your behavior in the workplace and not just necessarily on how well you fulfill your written job descriptions.

1. Whatever the topic; be kind
Even if you find yourself inadvertently in a conversation you wish you hadn't gotten yourself into;
diplomacy and generosity are always the best way to go. Kindness will not always be repaid with
kindness; but petty sarcasm usually is.

2. Television and Movies are generally safe; but be smart - steer away from anything with a controversial
bent; In other words - Transformers - yes, Broke Back Mountain - maybe not so much
Try the History Channel or Discovery; the latest documentary on penguins or any war that happened
over 1,000 years ago is generally pretty safe (and can make you look smart if you play your cards right)

3. Sports are good; especially if the local team is doing well - Keep it light, and play to the audience - A
conversation with a fellow fanatic should sound a whole lot different than your chat with a casual fan.
Too many detailed statistics may get people wondering what you're surfing on the web during business
hours .

4. and I hesitate to include this; Politics
When I say politics I mean giving the impression that you know what it is not what your opinion is.
Give the impression that you know what's going on in the world but refrain from impassioned speeches.
You can learn a lot about people from their political leanings; just be cautious to keep yours mainly to
yourself - the be kind rule is especially important here.

5. And now for the All Important Don'ts
A) Sex - in any way shape or form; don't do it; nothing good can come of this topic
B) Drinking; pretty much ditto; too much, too little - both make you a weirdo unless you work for
Jose Cuervo or the Baptist Church
C) Gossip; it's tempting but don't do it; karma says what goes around comes around and karma
doesn't fool around
D) Religion - Mine is good; you're going to Hell - not much to talk about anyway


As long as you know that no matter what the conversation turns to; you will be judged on what you say and well as what you don't say. Remember what Mark Twain said; Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, then to open it and remove all doubt

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