Recently, a good friend of mine was the brunt of derogatory and disrespectful behavior from her colleagues. Insulting and condescending emails circulated among publically elected officials were unearthed by the press through the Freedom of Information Act. My friend happens to be one of three women (nationally) in authority in the predominately male-dominated occupation of Fire Fighting which often lands her in the spot light and leads to constant social challenges. She’s used to it, but as her friend, it’s difficult to watch.
As a woman in the workforce, I can attest to the number of times the same behavior has been directed at me, but has never come to light and allowed to continue. Employers don’t seem to know how to hold their employees accountable for their actions, and tend to turn the other cheek because it’s easier.
It’s interesting to me that the Freedom of Information Act has unearthed this negative behavior, and by taking the high road and reacting positively, my friend is turning lemons into lemonade. Ultimately, she’s allowing the behavior of her colleagues to speak for themselves, and letting others make their own decisions about them.
In business, and in life, it’s important to remember that taking the high road may not always be the easiest thing to do, but it’s often the best path to follow to get to the truth. My partner and I truly believe that what goes around comes around. And with a little patience, you may just live long enough to see the karmic circle completed. Here’s to the high road…..we’ll see you on the other side.
