How much should you share at the office?

LinkedIn has a series of experts and influencers who share their wisdom about work, hiring, startups and life itself. Most of them do offer new insight into the changing world of employment but some of them seem to turn back time. 

Such one is Bernard Marr’s piece, Warning! The Things You Must Not Tell Anyone At Work. Marr is a best-selling author and enterprise performance expert, so he has experience in the workforce and most of his suggestions make sense but one or two just seem… old school.

Never talk about money at work, be it details about your salary or how much you have spent on your house, car or latest gadget. Talking about money can trigger lots of negative feelings such as jealousy and resentment.

Marr does have a point about breeding resentment but by not talking salary only benefits HR and managers. Women already don’t make as much as their male peers in most industries so maintaining a cone of silence only reinforces this imbalance.

I’m not saying declare your salary to all and sundry but strategic conversations can help you when negotiating your salary.

Another recommendation: You might feel like saying: “Why would anyone in their right mind vote Republican?” Simply don’t do it. Politics can divide people and open up a massive can of worms.

Really? Of course you can talk politics. It’s everywhere. Rob Ford is doing things, the US government is currently at a standstill, the Canadian government likes to prorogue on a semi-regular basis, and the British government just seem to shout at each other.

It’s not a case of don’t talk about politics. Do, just be smart about how to you discuss it.

Marr’s piece seems to wipe the personality out of work. We spend so much time at work and most of us make friends with our colleague (to varying degrees), that to not share a little bit of who we are can hurt you and your future prospects.

Think about it – would you want to help someone who kept themselves to themselves? On the other hand, it can hurt any networking you might do.

Also, it can make you the strange one in the office.

My takeaway, share a bit, just be judicious about it – don’t share everything with everyone for goodness’ sake. Be smart, be professional, and work with the team. And yes, you can talk politics and money.

I’m not the only one who gave this piece a bit of side-eye. Read through the comments for their thoughts.

How much would you share at work?