Maintaining Discretion: Balancing Workplace and Personal Endeavors

Let’s talk as friends.

If you have dreams, aspirations, or envision a life abundant in whatever you desire—be it wealth or simple fulfillment—I strongly suggest keeping your personal life separate from your professional circle, including coworkers and managers. As my grandmother wisely told me, “Never let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.” I’ve always lived by this principle when pursuing my personal dreams and goals.

At first glance, this advice might seem secretive or sneaky, but that’s because people often view it through the lens of interpersonal relationships. That’s not my intention. I’m advocating for protecting your dreams and personal life. This is particularly relevant because, in my 15 years in corporate life, I’ve observed that despite people showing up and doing their jobs, they also harbor personal aspirations outside of work that they hope to achieve. This became even more evident to me in my leadership role, where team members felt comfortable sharing their dreams and plans with me. I encouraged them to pursue their aspirations diligently and never lose sight of their goals, while following it up with the same advice I am sharing with you in this blog post.

Maintaining discretion between your workplace activities and personal endeavors is crucial to safeguarding your professional reputation and personal relationships. Firstly, in the workplace, revealing too much about personal pursuits or activities can lead to misconceptions or biases from colleagues or managers. This could potentially affect performance evaluations or workplace dynamics, especially if personal interests are misunderstood or seen as conflicting with professional responsibilities.

Secondly, disclosing all aspects of your professional life to colleagues or managers can lead to unintended consequences, such as jealousy or resentment. In competitive work environments, colleagues may view personal achievements or pursuits negatively, especially if they perceive these activities as distracting or detracting from team goals. This can create unnecessary tension or even jeopardize collaborative efforts if trust and cohesion are compromised.

Thirdly, in personal endeavors, sharing too much about workplace dynamics with friends or family members can lead to misunderstandings or unnecessary concern. Personal relationships may inadvertently influence perceptions or decisions related to work, potentially undermining your professional autonomy or creating undue pressure to align personal and professional interests in ways that may not be beneficial.

Lastly, maintaining a degree of separation between your work and personal life allows you to cultivate a balanced approach to both. It enables you to focus on professional growth and personal development without unnecessary distractions or external pressures. By keeping your right hand uninformed about what your left hand is doing, you preserve autonomy and discretion, which are essential for navigating both the complexities of the workplace and personal endeavors effectively.

Stay Flashy, and Stay mute about your dreams and goals.

Author: The Impartial Lab. (M.TIL)