My English teacher in elementary school would give an evil eye to those who poked their nose in other peoples business. “Don’t be a nosy poker”, she would say firmly. Being nosy is defined as “a prying and inquisitive disposition”, to worry about things that do not concern us.
Yet there are those in the workplace that focus more on what other people do with their time, and eavesdrop on private conversations to gather fodder for the gossip mill. The modus operandi is all too familiar — listen in, find fault with others, blame others for ones’ own shortcomings, and habitually try and get other people in trouble. It’s the first sign of incompetence, and it is demoralizing to those that work hard.
Smart people keep their nose in their own business, and focus on getting their own work done. It’s difficult for us to get our own house in order, when we spend all our time peeping in through the neighbors windows.
About Hemant Rustogi