ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULT BEHAVIOR AT WORKPLACE.

 “Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” Ronald Reagan

Dealing with difficult behavior anytime is a strain and a drain on one’s energy. But when you have to do it at your workplace which is almost your second home, it becomes worse. For those who spend a lot of time away from home and are at work, this can seem quite intimidating.

Understanding difficult behavior at home – you cope up with it as best as you can. Then you rush to the office only to find a sour-faced boss and co-workers, who vary from being friendly to being totally uncooperative. Throughout the day, dealing with customers and  clients and other difficult situations becomes quite challenging.

“Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” William James

Difficult situations at the workplace warrant a lot of self esteem and self-confidence within you to address obnoxious behavior from a co-worker or someone from your team. Your place in the team (if you are a team leader, a different set of rules apply) will decide how best you can manage.

At the probational level, you have to grit your teeth and bear it with a smile. Unless, of course, it is harassment of a different type. You will need to keep interaction to the minimum level and maintain maximum tolerance at all times.  Do not ignite any situation that might cause you harm in the long run.

“Conflict can destroy a team which hasn’t spent time learning to deal with it.” Thomas Isgar

After your probation into the next level, you can afford to stay a bit more relaxed. But then again, you will have to toe the line with the other co-workers and be accountable to your team leaders. Conflicts could arise and they are best sorted out amicably, if it is just a clash of ego between two people.

On the other hand, if many others are involved, the best thing would be to team up and address such behavior. Or inform the management to help address the employee issue before it spirals into negativity. More than a difference of opinion, the reason for most of these clashes would be something as trivial as a ‘wrong tone of voice used’.

“There are two ways of meeting difficulties. You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself meeting them”. Phyllis Bottome.

When your professional credibility is undermined, or you are faced with a negative co-worker or a bully, it can again affect your performance at work. Being insulted, yelled at, having to hear demeaning remarks at regular intervals can intimidate you quite a bit. It is best to keep away from these types. Every organization as a few of them. They spread an air of negativity all around them. Leave them alone.

Confronting someone at work is not easy. You should never make it your first priority. But sometimes it becomes necessary when there are issues about sharing work or credits, irritating slipshod habits of a co-worker, intentional missed customer delivery deadlines or sometimes just keeping a project on track.

Sometimes it could even be confronting gossip-mongering. Inevitable in workplaces, these tale tellers blow a partially true fact all out of proportion. It is not an easy task but there are instances when there are no other options except confrontation.

 “Workplace bullying–in any form–is bad for business. It destroys teamwork, commitment and morale.” Tony Morgan

Effective relationships are absolutely essential for a smooth atmosphere at work. Education, experience, title…nothing matters if you cannot vibe well with your co-workers. Specially with reference to relationships with bosses, team leaders and co-workers. Holding sensible and diligent conversations are very important at work. They help in correcting co-workers with annoying habits. It is absolutely the need of the organisation to have competent, kind and trustworthy bosses. Difficult bosses can mar your day.

The end punch line is ...Try to build allies at work. Smart allies can contribute to effectively building co-worker relationships and strengthening it. Grow to be well liked by all around you that people will speak up for you when needed. After all, Success is in your hands,

The Law of Win/Win says, ‘Let’s not do it your way or my way; let’s do it the best way’.” Greg Anderson

Let the Best Way Prevail !!