MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL

By Vernalee

Mirror, mirror on the wall; flattery gets you everything, but no hocus pocus, today! Tell me and show me the truth! For sure, whether I acknowledge what I see, the mirror doesn't lie! It reflects what it sees ... sometimes much to our chagrin or displeasure. I'm not sure what's in the air. but so many people are itching to tell others what they really think! One of my closest colleagues has had enough! She recently told me that she routinely despite the falsehoods utter words that are soft to the ear. In other words, she has mastered the uncanny ability to tell people what they want to hear! It's called dishonestu! She doesn't want to hurt their feelings, but she finally realized that she is hurting them more by shielding the truth. Last week, she even got mad at herself for this stance of unintended hypocrisy. Alright, the time has come. I think that she's ready.

Despite being surrounded by the “laugh in your face, stab you behind your back” characters, and many others walking in the world of phoniness, she unlike her fellow evildoers, has never had willful ill intent or malice in her heart. She still doesn't!

Here's what she should do! There is little risk involved. She should turn her magic mirror on them. Let the mirror do the talking and say the things that she could never bring her mouth to utter. The magic mirror will for sure expose them and their shenanigans. Oh My, it's working! Stop! Look at their faces and accompanying reactions! Some are denying the truth! Wow! What a glaring reflection; the mirror is reaching out to them! Remember it was them who told my friend that she had bottled up charisma and was a great person. So here; come closer; look in the mirror! They were right! The mirror told it all - about her and them ...and all of their wrongness! What a revelation!

Photo credit: www.etsy.com

ARE YOU IN A WAR ZONE ... WHILE WORKING?

By Vernalee

Many viewers tuned in for years on Thursday’s nights to watch Kerry Washington in her role as Scandal’s star, Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert to the President and high profiled individuals. However, some of us need not wait to see the weekly series now in re-runs, when we can get a daily snapshot of scandalous activities in our respective workplaces! The intriguing/ inappropriate accompaniments – lies, harassment, innuendos – are included in the roundup that we call standard office conduct. How about that! If shouting matches, humiliating comments, degradation of coworkers, abuse, sabotage of material, discrediting others’ professional character, intellectual gymnastics to prove who is the smartest …. describe your office environment, you can perhaps identify with several of the above imaged post it notes (scandals, rumors, lies, enemies, spying, backstabbing…..). Unbelievable, isn’t it? If your office environment can put the successful “Scandal” to shame, send your information to its creator, Shonda Rhimes. It may become her next blockbuster television series! You then will “be in the money” and out of your scandalous office!

The verdict is out as to how much of this conduct regularly displayed in our physical office environment

will transcend through the airwaves to our virtual offices. We hope that it stays where it is. But as the clock ticks, we’ll see!

Photo credit: www.womenpoweringbusiness.com

THE WORKPLACE WITCH

By Vernalee

Called Wicked, The Wizard of Oz was revived on Broadway. This 1939 MGM movie is a timeless classic and entertaining as it can be watched over and over again without boredom. Though the Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character, don't be surprised if you occasionally see a similar character gallivanting around in your midst on her broomstick. A colleague recently reported a sighting of a Workplace Witch on her job site. She indicated that this wicked witch terrorizes employees with her tactics. Included in her daily antics and mannerism are emotional shouting matches. Belligerent speech spiked with profanity and degrading insults are typical. The staff routinely gets a break because the Workplace Witch regularly travels to exotic lands while attending expensive seminars. Though broomstick travel would be cheaper and environmentally friendly, she uses Delta Airlines instead. Her broomstick is packed in her Louis Vuitton luggage that she conspicuously parks at the Ritz Carlton. Her behavior is wildly bizarre and outrageous, but no one "checks" her; perhaps because she is in the executive suite. With such outrageous conduct, for certain she is not a role model for her peers or subordinates! I forgot to mention that there are a few warlocks that she socializes with as well. Wickedness is equally dispersed by both genders. Raise your hand if you have worked with a person who is so terrible that you deliberately stay out of their path! Incredible, isn't it? It's time for the staff to be rescued. They should call Dorothy and her crew from Oz. Agreed? Hopefully, the Scarecrow tags along! Throwing water may do the trick for this Workplace Witch as it did for Dorothy! If the witch melts and fades away, perhaps the staff will joyously and triumphantly sing as did the Munchkins, "Ding Dong, The Witch is gone!" At least that will stop the Workplace Witch from casting a tyrant spell and reappearing somewhere "Over the Rainbow!"

Photo credit: mytitlewave.blogspot.com