COVERED Issue 5 Edition 2 | Page 9

It is vital to respect the religious and cultural differences of other human beings but it is equally vital to ensure that your affiliations are respected and that can only be done if they are made mention of. Salaah breaks, not participating in Friday afternoon drinks, and not shaking the hand of strange men are all aspects which can be allowed and respected if they are explained in an appropriate fashion. Thirdly; it is important to find commonalities between other colleagues as opposed to just focussing on the differences. Alienation is never a healthy option and one should make a concerted effort to spend time with colleagues, professionalism maintained, in situations which do not defy your belief system. Coffee catch-ups at work and team-building events are generally useful in establishing strong working relationships between colleagues and can go a long way in maintaining productivity in the workplace. The world of work is demanding yet fulfilling and if one adopts the correct attitude that can result only in a successful career.