Our society tends to be more open-minded these days. Personal issues are less frowned upon than they used to be. You often talk to your work colleagues about your private life.
Despite any friendship, you should keep some topics to yourself and not carry them into your professional life, because that can actually damage your own career.
Especially when it comes to choosing a topic in conversations, the wheat is usually separated from the chaff. Because there are things that careerists never talk about in public - especially not with people who are not very close to them.
1. Diseases
In times of Covid-19 your own healt status might become a topic much quicker than expected. However, I am talking about a different kind of diseases.
You shouldn't be surprised, but nobody wants to know if you have irritable bowel syndrome. And more importantly, nobody should know that you suspect your colleague of having one.
Illnesses should never be discussed outside the family. This is especially true for serious issues that can quickly lead to prejudice from others.
Do we really want him? Who knows if he doesn't drop out too often?
You should be sparing with medical information and really should only go public with an illness if it is really necessary. This does not only apply to diseases from which you suffer yourself. Even those of the partner, for example, have no place in most circles. Those affected should always be able to decide for themselves whether they want to talk about it or prefer to remain silent.
Furthermore, who knows if your disease (even a harmless one) won't be the reason for not getting the job offer you are hoping for?
2. Relationship Problems
When we are in a crisis situation with our partner, we often feel the urge to share our worries with someone. Most of the time we immediately feel better when we no longer carry our anger around with us alone.
At the end, everyone should know what kind of asshole your partner is, right?!
But that is a topic that generally does not belong to the public. Not even to any of your colleagues, with whom you spend most time of the week. Because even if you may feel relieved for a moment after you have given your anger an outlet, it can quickly lead to even more anger in the end.
What a chatterbox! I really don't feel like this drama!
You should never reveal details about your relationship that no longer pass as trivial. The really tough topics such as permanent points of contention, everyday worries or even intimate problems only belong in your own four walls.
The reason for this is that such information can open doors that you would rather keep closed. If you do not know your counterpart by heart, you do not know for sure what will happen to this information.
You should be aware that public gossip about your partner can jeopardize your relationship even more.
The same also applies to family problems. Whether it concerns your own parents or your in-laws - it is better to exercise discretion.
3. Goals and Dreams
Last but not least, goals and dreams. All of us have them, many of us chase them, some of us might already live them.
At whatever position you see yourself, do not gossip in public about what are actually quite intimate things for a number of reasons. Those who are still far from realizing their goals can quickly look like a dreamer who fantasizes about utopian things. In a professional context, in particular, you can end up with the wrong person.
In addition, such details offer a target for attack. Not everyone just wants the best for you, and you should always be aware of that.
This guy will never do it, even if I have to take care of it.
In the meantime, studies have also shown that it is not a good idea to trumpet your personal goals everywhere. According to a study by the New York University, it is even less likely that you will actually achieve your goals if you have discussed them in detail beforehand.
Keep this information to yourself and present your results when you have put your plans into action.
Until then, it is wiser to focus on your own goals and dreams only in the closest circle.
That were, quick and dirty, three topics you should avoid talking about in your daily business. Sure, if you are close friends with your colleague, why not, but often we talk too much about our private life which does not belong to your work space?
How about you? Do you see yourself talking about those topics often or are you rather a closed book?