Do you have a “work family”?

Someone you consider a mentor, like an older sibling? Someone you can joke around with? A close friend? Or perhaps there’s someone you often disagree but with whom you must learn to co-operate?

This is only natural when we spend about a third of our lives at work. But sometimes the lines between professional and personal can be blurred to a point that creates conflict in the very place we can’t escape.

Maybe you’re in the position to grant a promotion to someone, but your favoritism for a friend makes that difficult for everyone involved. Maybe you’ve become so relaxed around your colleagues that you say something inappropriate and offend someone without meaning to. Maybe a co-worker asks you to lie to your boss on their behalf and puts you in a compromising position.

Knowing your ethical boundaries can help you stay afloat in these types of situations.

Understanding that your first reaction may not be the best reaction, and thinking about how your words and actions affect others can save your personal relationships and professional reputation.

This is also true in volunteer positions. Sometimes the traits that make us successful at work don’t apply in these roles. But ethics help us always.

That’s why the BBB Education Foundation is offering LIFT to all sectors of society. LIFT is an educational program that teaches people how to think and act ethically.

We can all recall a time when we’ve faced a dilemma at work. What guiding principles helped you out? Did you make a decision you now regret? LIFT gives you the principles that are tailored to your personality and values so that you can make choices you’ll be proud of.

It gives you the tools you need to accomplish your goals while creating a healthy work environment around you.

Previously published Wednesday, August 4 in Canstar News (https://winnipeg-can-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=1cf9c3b6d_1345e98)