Mike DomitrzPresident, Author, and Speaker on Respect, The Center for Respect, Inc. · Author & Speaker on Respect for Schools, Corporations, & the Military since 1990 (has reached

Build mutually amazing relationships in the workplace.

19 Sept 2023 · 1 min

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1:00

In this short training monologue, the speaker explains how to initiate conversations about building mutually amazing workplace relationships without being misinterpreted. The key advice is to first set the context by discussing workplace culture and shared goals, rather than directly stating the desire for a close relationship. By explicitly stating that the discussion is not sexual and calling out any potential sexual framing early, the speaker demonstrates how to preempt accusations of harassment. The overall approach emphasizes clear, purposeful framing, proactive clarification, and establishing conversational standards to ensure the dialogue stays focused on professional culture and mutual respect.

Chapters

If I walk up to a coworker and say, hey, I want to have a mutually amazing relationship with you, let's talk about that. They could misinterpret that. I agree, that might not be the approach to this conversation. Right? You might not want to just start off that way. Notice, did I start off that way tonight? No, I set the standard for why we're having the conversation in the first place. All right? That's the key. You're not just going to walk up and say, I want to have a mutually amazing relationship. You're going to say, hey, let's talk about our culture. We don't want bad things to happen. So what do we want to have happen? And you then reveal, well, what would a mutually amazing relationship work in the workplace? Now, what did I do 2 seconds tonight into that comment? I said some of you made it sexual when it's not. I called that out. By calling that out, what did that do? That means I am not talking sexually. I didn't run from the topic. I went right after the topic to make it very clear. So if you're afraid that, well, if I say this wrong, I could be— somebody is going to accuse me of sexual harassment. Then call it out right away so you address that.