Harassment – Part 3
- Brainz Magazine
- Apr 13, 2021
- 3 min read
Written by: Motti Wein, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
"Harassment" is perhaps the most feared word in business today. Each Human Resources department around the world invests countless hours and dollars into training and other preventive measures to avoid it.
What if there is a much cheaper and less time-consuming way to protect oneself and one's business from harassment difficulties?
Two issues ago, I spoke about being on a “last-name-basis” in all business relationships. This ensures the business relationship remains purely business. Last issue I spoke about the dangers of technology.
This issue I would like to conclude the series by discussing:
“We”
Praising the job vs. the worker
Having a positive role model
1. When referring to a member of the opposite gender with yourself, avoid “we” and instead stick to: “You and I.” While on the surface this appears trivial, it is another constructive fence that will ensure the business relationship remains purely business.
2. In a similar vein, when praising a co-worker of the opposite gender, focus on the job they did. “You did a great job” is more appropriate than “You are great.” When praising a spouse, it is just the opposite. “You are great” is more appropriate than “You did a great job.”
3. Words cannot adequately convey the importance of having a positive role model in business. We all have strengths and weaknesses. It is crucial to have someone trustworthy to look up to and confide in weaknesses to ensure we don’t stumble.
While easier for such a positive role model to be one’s immediate supervisor, it does not have to be. Depending on the situation, it may even be preferable not to be. If it is more comfortable to confide in a friend, a former teacher, or one’s spiritual leader, so be it. Like most Torah Jews, I have my rabbi I confide everything with, and he guides me.
Lakewood, NJ, has been used worldwide as a positive example of how to reopen a close-knit community from Corona without compromising public safety. Our children have not missed a single day of in-person school since schools reopened last summer. Governor Phil Murphy of NJ met with Lakewood's rabbinic leaders, and his staff had daily interaction with the same rabbinic leaders to ensure all protocols were met and being followed. Working as a team, with everyone respecting each other, enabled Lakewood to reopen as it did.
We live in a world where flattery is out of control. Everyone wants to be liked by others. As a result, our self-esteem has gone down the tubes.
With all the advanced technology today and the amassed wealth we as a whole have merited to earn especially compared to previous generations, psychologists and harassment lawyers are raking in money like never before. Why?
Instead of trying to be like others and bridging differences by changing ourselves to fit in, let’s bridge differences by being proud of who we are, staying true to ourselves, and respecting those who are different.
My father obm grew up in Brooklyn in the 1950s, a proud Jew surrounded by Italians. I grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a proud Jew surrounded by virtually every ethnicity. My children are growing up in Lakewood, proud Jews surrounded by Hispanics. My father got along with his neighbors, I got along with mine, and my children get along with theirs.
Applying this to the business world, we work with many ethnicities, religions, and demographics. By keeping the business environment business, by being proud of our differences versus being ashamed, and by respecting those who are different, may we merit seeing success, bliss, and eternal happiness both in our business lives and in our personal lives.
We will merit a “good name” which no one can take away from us.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more tips on future issues.
Motti Wein, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Founded in 2015 by Motti Wein, we don't view honesty as the best policy; rather, we view it as the foundation for all policies. Let us use our cumulative decades of experience in overcoming adversary, leadership, trust, real estate, customer service, business acumen, family values, and our good name to help you manage and grow your NJ real estate investment portfolio. We may be reached at 732-415-8446 or emailed at WeinRealtyLLC@gmail.com. Wein Holdings, Wein Consulting, Wein Management, and Wein Lending are all divisions of Wein Realty, LLC. Please note we are a proud member of "Mem Dalet"--an initiative to encourage traditional Jewish workplace values in an ever-increasing nation-wide culture of harassment & assault against women and general hostility towards religion. For more information, please contact us. Regarding Mr. Wein's work in kosher supervision, please email Wein.ChaimM@gmail.com or MWein@JewishHomeFreehold.org.
