Conflicts In the Office: Tips For Getting Along With Your Co-Workers
Conflicts in the office are a necessary evil. They may not be pleasant, but they're important: they help keep your workplace productive and ensure that you have someone to play off of against in brainstorming sessions. They help stimulate some new ideas for solving issues or conflicts among co-workers. This is why it's important to establish some guidelines for how people can make sure no one gets too upset or too angry, so everyone needs to work together with understanding and patience.
In order to do this, you first need to decide the limits on just which conflicts are acceptable within the office. Here are some guidelines to help you determine what things you can and cannot get mad about at work.
1. Inappropriate Conflicts: If your co-worker has said something that's offensive, be it sexist, racist or gay bashing, or because they have expressed anger toward someone else in the office or another employee; this is not an appropriate conflict to get too upset about. This is when you should take a strong stand by saying something like "That was inappropriate and I'm offended by it." If this occurs several times, more than once in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
2. Personal Issues: If you have a personal issue with someone in the office, whether it's because they're overweight, have too much hair or just look like they don't care about their job and are being lazy, this is not an acceptable conflict to get worked up over. Again, say something like "That was inappropriate and I'm offended by it." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
3. Leaking Conflicts: The most important thing to remember is that leaks happen all the time at work and anyone can be the source of one. If you have seen a conflict or an issue that's happening in the office that you're positive is being leaked, then chances are it's someone you know, possibly even your co-workers. If this happens more than twice in a month, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
4. Serious Conflicts: People will have serious conflicts. They might have had a serious falling out with another employee or someone else at work and it may be one of those situations where someone is really making things difficult for everyone else and things get serious. If this happens more than twice in a month, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward there.
5. Conflict With Others: If you have a disagreement with someone else in the office, whether it's another co-worker or just another random person at work, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
6. Conflicts Between Co-Workers: If you have a conflict with one of your co-workers, whether it's because they've said something offensive or are being rude or disrespectful toward you, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
7. Conflicts With Customers: If you have a conflict with someone who is a customer at the office, whether it's because they're rude and their behavior is so bad that they are ruining your reputation, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
8. Conflicts With Your Supervisor: If you have a conflict with your boss or supervisor, whether it's because they're trying to order you around and you don't like how they are taking charge of the situation, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
9. Conflicts With Your Co-Workers: If you have a conflict with one of your co-workers, whether it's because they're making jokes that are being offensive or they've been sticking their noses into your personal business, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
10. Conflicts With Other Customers: If you have a conflict with someone who is a customer at the office, whether it's because they're rude and their behavior is so bad that they are ruining your reputation, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
11. Conflicts With Others: If you have a disagreement with someone else in the office, whether it's another co-worker or just another random person at work, this is not an appropriate conflict to get worked up over. This is when you should say something like "That was inappropriate and I don't want to fight." If this occurs several times, more than twice in a single day, then something should be done about it: maybe remove them from the office for a day if you can't help yourself from acting negatively toward them.
12.
Conclusion:
My secret tip that I am going to tell you today is to establish yourself as the boss in your office. If you are the boss in your office, then everyone becomes aware that you are the boss and they won't dare to disobey you. Now you don't have to disobey them. You can say, "No." Just don't act like a jerk and just be nice when they ask for something. This tip doesn't work always but it works most of the time when it comes to office issues. So if this tip doesn't work today, then use other tips or tactics as well.