Speaker responce - Assignment Example

2. Insights from the presentation After hearing Joe Ellis speak about the five things to do in a job, I have come to a conclusion that, in order to be successful, one must always keep things simple on the job. In accomplishing tasks and getting along with colleagues, for instance, there are no complicated rules to follow. The workplace ethics of obedience, punctuality, and respect still apply. Obeying what the boss says and speaking up when something needs to be said is always valued at work.

Delivering high-quality work output and accomplishing them on time is always appreciated. Reaching out to co-workers and establishing friendly relationships with them makes for a fun and relaxed working environment. Achieving these goals, however, requires a considerable amount of effort. The next principle I learned from Joe Ellis is the value of being open. Openness results to transparency, seamless flow of ideas, and assertiveness. First, co-workers would be able to deal more effectively with a person who shows his/her strengths and weaknesses.

Showing one’s true identity is a way of gaining the trust and respect of co-workers. Second, being open encourages a person to share his/her ideas that can be useful in any business organization. A free-flowing stream of ideas would result to sharing of knowledge among co-workers. Finally, being open makes a person more assertive. Knowing when to speak up and what to say is very important in the workplace. A person who is not inhibited would always say what’s in his/her mind at the right time.

Another important thing I learned from the presentation is the value of collaboration in the workplace. There is a saying that “No man is an island” which is very obvious in the workplace. More and better things can be achieved if people work together. Having the same vision would motivate each member of a business organization to always put his/her best foot forward in order to achieve his/her goals. A person who can work independently and is, at the same time, a team player would encourage his/her co-workers to also do their best in whatever they do. 3. Workplace Issues The first issue in the workplace that I’d like to talk about involves age, gender, race, and class.

In the workplace, one would find all sorts of people coming from diverse background. The challenge lies in overcoming and looking beyond those differences to ensure smooth and friendly workplace relationships. The issue of race, for instance, is very critical in a globalized workplace. One would find different types of people coming from different cultural backgrounds. It is expected that tolerance to different cultures will be displayed in the workplace. The issue of gender and sexual preferences is another interesting issue that needs to be dealt with proper care.

Each person posses a unique view of his/her gender which, in turn, influences his/her psychological, intellectual, and emotional make-up. Respect and tolerance to every person’s gender in the workplace, therefore, is highly needed. While it is ideal to have a smooth and congenial workplace relationships, various conflicts among co-workers may happen from time to time. The issue of resolving conflicts is another workplace issue that needs attention. Gossips, backstabbing, insubordination, and unethical conduct are some of the reasons that spark workplace conflicts.

This leads me to the basic rule that apply in any workplace – respect. If each co-worker would treat others with respect, then some of these conflicts can be