1 – Get everything in writing. Get business agreements and assignments in writing. Save emails and voicemails with changes if there is a chance you may be blamed for something going wrong or being misinterpreted. Consider keeping a log (include who, what, when, where) of interactions to substantiate your work. Document your hours and productivity if they could come into question.

2 – Have a witness. When giving negative feedback to someone who may claim you were unprofessional, have a Human Resource person or your assistant sit in. Copy questionable emails to someone who will back you up.

3 – Steer clear of personal topics. If the stability or the integrity of people you work around is in question, avoid conversations about personal issues. This helps avoid feeding gossip about you or getting sucked into their life dramas, inner office affairs, or gossip.

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