Don’t Share Too Much Information with Co-Workers There are several reasons for not sharing personal information with your co-workers. You may not want to burden your co-workers. As I alluded to, also, did not trust your co-workers to keep your secret. There are people around, and we all know someone like this, who will think nothing of talking about you. Some people are very matter-of-fact about it and just assume there’s nothing wrong with telling others whatever you told them. Some may be malicious and intend to cause harm by spreading information. By the time you find out you’ve shared your story with the wrong person, it’s usually too late. Those of you who have been around dogs know that a dog will show its submissiveness to a more dominant dog by exposing its belly. When you share personal information, especially information that shows your weaknesses, you may be "exposing your belly" to your co-workers. If your position at work requires you to exhibit strength and control, such as a managerial position, you may be showing just the opposite by sharing certain information. Here’s what Elizabeth Mitchell, a senior editor, had to say about this," Decisions are made and impressions formed about us while at work that are used for different reasons than those with our families and friends. For example, a person being considered for a promotion would benefit from having an image of strength, excellent judgment and good interpersonal skills. How might your recent disclosure to your colleagues that you are divorcing your alcoholic husband, just obtained a restraining order in fear for your life and are worried about making your house payments, affect your chances for promotion You can’t sleep, fear you are depressed and need support from friends during this trying time. In this situation, a wise employee would make an appointment with an Employee Assistance Program counselor and use his or her friends and family for support, letting colleagues at work know, perhaps, that he or she is divorcing but keeping the details scant. " As mentioned earlier, revealing too much about yourself may give people the wrong impression or rather the impression you don’t want them to have. In general, you do want to preserve some level of privacy. Susan Heathfield says, "When you have worked in a particular work place for a long time, people will tend to know more about your personal world, simply from longevity. As an example, they know when you took a week off work when your mother died. They know you left for the day when your son got sick at school. This level of knowledge about each other is fine and, depending on the work place, almost unavoidable ..." Brian Mairs, a career expert, gets straight to the point, "If you don’t want to hear it in the neighborhood pub, don’t mention it around the water cooler. If it is a thing of pride (new car, new house, new baby, etc), go ahead and share the joy. If it is a thing of privacy (family problems, etc. ) keep it to yourself at work. Find a professional therapist, or somebody you trust to keep a confidence (such as a Priest or Rabbi), to discuss such things. " As with anything else, you are the only one who can decide what, and how much information you want to share with your co-workers. The words of wisdom provided by my colleagues certainly give you something to think about. In the end, though, the decision is yours. And the consequences are yours to deal with. If opening up your personal life is what you feel comfortable to do, realize that there will be no line between the "work you" and the "real you". That may be fine for some people, and as a matter of fact preferable for many. A lot of people would feel uncomfortable and unhappy exhibiting a different persona at work than they do at home. Do what you need to do, as long as it doesn’t interfere with doing your job. What CANNOT be inferred according to Brian Mairs

A The walls have ears.
B Never believe anybody.
C Bad news spreads far and wide.
D Keep your privacy from work.