SELF-ASSESSMENT AND PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

THE "MIRROR" TEST: WOULD I DO THIS IN FRONT OF MY FAMILY?

To avoid inadvertently becoming a harasser, every employee should subject his or her behavior to a rigorous personal audit. One effective tool is the "mirror test" or family test.

Before making a comment, sending a message or touching a colleague, the individual should ask himself or herself: Would I feel comfortable if my mother, sister, spouse or children were watching this interaction? If the answer is no, the behavior is probably inappropriate.

Suppose Casanova works in a modern office. Before he makes a comment about a coworker's cleavage, he should visualize whether he would say the same thing if his own mother were standing next to him, or whether he would like someone saying that to his sister.

If the idea causes you embarrassment or discomfort, it is a clear sign that you are crossing a professional red line.

This introspection helps filter out behaviors that, while rationalized as "jokes," are offensive.

RECOGNIZE ONE'S OWN BEHAVIORS THAT MAY BE MISINTERPRETED.

Often, people operate under the illusion that their intentions justify their actions. However, in the work environment, impact is what counts. A personality self-assessment is vital.

Those who consider themselves "very tactile" or "jokers" should understand that the workplace is not the setting to display those facets unfiltered.

Psychologists suggest that we often project onto others what we like ourselves, but assuming unsolicited confidence is a risk.

If Emperor Nero, who considers himself a misunderstood and eccentric artist, has a habit of giving neck massages to his advisors without asking, under the belief that "it helps to relax," you should stop and evaluate.

Would you be willing to have that interaction described in detail in a Human Resources report or in a public newspaper? Would you be willing to have the video of that action published? If transparency of your actions creates a fear of reputational consequences, then your behavior is harassment, not camaraderie.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

The line between friendship and harassment may seem blurred in close-knit teams, but there are clear markers. Professional behavior respects each other's physical and emotional space.

What is acceptable at a weekend social gathering with longtime friends is not necessarily acceptable with colleagues on a Tuesday morning.

Treating a female companion as a potential romantic conquest rather than a professional one is a violation of this distinction. Imagine Henry VIII attempting to court a new female employee.

Even if he believes he is being "romantic" by sending her anonymous gifts and insistent notes, he must ask himself whether she has the real freedom to reject hi