​Office boundaries: 10 things to keep private in the workplace​

Once you start working, you give the green signal to the idea of spending half of your day at the office. In a more realistic picture, there are days when you’ll see that timeframe get stretched without you even realizing it. While an office setup can sometimes become an incubation centre for collaboration, interaction, and personal growth, it can also become toxic and draining for your mental health on certain days.Even though you are not solely responsible for how your office experience will turn out, your actions have the power to control how people will see you as an individual. While it takes a long time to build a favourable image, it just takes seconds to ruin that image. So, think twice before sharing any details. Here are 10 things you should not be vocal about if you want to protect your own peace. Scroll down to know more

The reason it is called ‘personal’ life is because it is not for sharing in public. Your workspace is for work. It doesn't need to be filled with emotions. Sharing every detail of your latest breakup or family issues can turn your desk into a gossip hotspot, especially for people who are not even empathetic toward you. It's just that everybody loves drama.

Your dislike for your team lead or your colleague is not a piece of information that needs to be broadcasted to everyone. You don’t like certain people, and vice versa. It’s a personal choice that you are free to make, but badmouthing others behind their back doesn’t make you attractive or cool. Also remember, if people criticize others behind their back in front of you, don’t be surprised if they do the same behind your back as well. Gossip may sound fun, but it just wraps you in the name of office politics.

Your colleague has nothing to do with your salary except comparing it with their own. Don’t quote your salary amount frequently—try to be private, and also draw the line in a way that people don’t feel they have the liberty to ask about it. Do not go around asking others about their salary either; it’ll leave you with unnecessary assumptions and jealousy.

If you are planning to shift companies or start your own business, this information has nothing to do with your teammates. Do your work while maintaining ethical standards and leave when you feel it’s time to move. Also, don’t influence others to discuss their career plans either.

You may not like the task you have been assigned, or the meeting you just had with your boss, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should share those details with the person sitting next to you. If you keep venting about things and people, after a point, others will start seeing you as a negative person. They are not in your situation—communicate the problem directly to the people with whom you have the issue.

Accepting your colleague’s or HR’s Facebook request simply means you are giving them access to scan what your social life looks like. In that case, be very selective about what you post. If your fake sick leave is the reason for your Manali trip, don’t share those pictures without thinking about who your audience is.

Sometimes, in the fear of missing out, you end up sharing too much information with the wrong people. Later, that information can be used against you in different situations. Rather than sharing your details, focus on absorbing others' experiences.

Nothing is apolitical—neither your office nor your colleagues. Politics is a personal choice that everyone has the freedom to practise. Don’t discuss politics inside your office premises. It will result in unnecessary opinion clashes and conflicts of personal preferences. Even if someone says something against your political belief, don’t react or try to correct them—it’s not worth your energy.

If you are moonlighting or doing basic freelance work for personal and financial growth, that’s absolutely okay—until and unless it becomes known to your coworkers. Ethical dilemmas may arise if your upper management finds out you are not giving 100% to the job you’re assigned. Finish your work within time and then live your life the way you want.

If your upper management shares any sensitive information with you, make sure it stays under wraps. Sharing confidential information with anyone is like whispering secrets in a crowded room—someone’s bound to overhear, and the fallout can be disastrous.