Most instances of oversharing at work rarely sprout from poor judgment – good intentions of honesty, transparency or relatability can easily insert themselves in the wrong time and place, even when the content of what you’re sharing is upstanding. Protecting your professional credibility is of utmost value, so if you’re confused on when and if to share something, here are a few questions to consider.
What Does Oversharing at Work Look Like Practically?
Mentioning your weekend plans or engaging personally with a colleague to build rapport aren’t the enemies of oversharing, but broadcasting personal information in the absence of any professional benefit can leave you vulnerable. Once you’ve shared something, you’ve lost control over how it’s interpreted and remembered, so no conversational blurbs at work fall into neutral territory. Over-explaining a delay, narrating stress in real time, or bringing all work scenarios back to yourself are all prime examples of small talk most professionals make without thinking twice. It doesn’t mean you’re unprofessional – it just means that lines are more easily blurred.
Why Does Oversharing Feel So Natural?
In fast paced environments, oversharing can masquerade as connectedness or visibility. Oversharing when you’re anxious or trying to avoid being misunderstood is understandable, but professional environments tend to reward patterns, not long-winded explanations. When too much context is opened up to the floor, you can sometimes end up inviting in scrutiny and unnecessary concern where it wasn’t before.
How Can You Share with Discernment?
Don’t let the idea of intentional communication scare you into silence – if your input helps someone make a decision or alters timelines and expectations, then you can feel comfortable going on the record. When you can put your emotions aside and focus on professional outcomes as your litmus test for what and when to share, you’ll grow in wisdom both inside and outside of the office.
The quiz above tests you on some classic examples of oversharing in the workplace, so take a few moments to educate yourself before your next presentation or networking event!
