Current News: Private Email at Work

Sometimes I like to post about the things we do in our anger. I found this article today regarding a case going on in New Jersey where a woman used her Yahoo account to contact her attorney regarding a hostile work environment.  Read more here in the article “Privilege in Private Email at Work” from Law.com.  They are arguing whether or not the emails are admissible or not since they were sent on the companies email system, yet they were not sent through company’s email system but her own account.

Regardless to what happens during this case (though I’d be interested to see how it ends), I thought about how sometimes in our anger at work we get upset and use technology to start firing off emails and text messages.  Be careful… using your business or workplace internet system or phone systems to get something off your chest may relieve some pressure in the moment, however in the long run could cost you.

A good technique to use here is to take a time out. Go get a cup of coffee, take a walk outside or if you can’t do that, just sit and do nothing, until you can regain some kind of composure and think more cleary. Trust me, the longer you wait to act on your anger, the better your outcomes will be.

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Current News: Consequences for Serena

Good Monday Morning!

 

If you watched any sports this weekend you heard the news about Serena Williams behavior at the U.S. Open. In the article Day after the U.S. Open tirade, Serena Williams with fine and backlash (9/14), from the NYDailyNews.com, Wayne Coffey reports on the $10,500 fine she received as well as the negative comments about her behavior.

 

Instead trying to understand what she did and why, I am more interested in the consequences that she will face. Will she be hurt by the $10,500 that she was fined… I doubt it.  Is she concerned about her reputation, I’m not sure.  As a rule, I normally ask individuals when they first enter anger management counseling how they feel about their behavior and what results has it gotten them.   People don’t normally come in for help until the consequences of their repeated behavior has become a problem… threats of job loss, divorce, break up, legal issues, etc.  Sometimes, I don’t think people who don’t have anger issues understand that those who do (and don’t think they have a problem) are really fine with their behavior and how it affects themselves and others. So if they are okay with it… why stop it…what would be the use. I could give a hundred reasons why, but it would have to matter to the individual who is presenting the behavior… not me.  

 

I’m not sure how Ms. Williams will deal with this issue or even if it’s an issue to her at all. For some other tennis stars (i.e. John McEnroe), the consequences didn’t seem to be an issue and it seems to be paying off just fine. I would hope that Ms. Williams would rather be defined by her skill and prowess in the sport rather than by being labeled and presenting her self as one who is a sore loser and has a bad temper… only time will tell.

 

Just my thoughts…what are yours?

 

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