Workplace Drama – Part 3
Learning to respond to workplace drama is important in order to prevent and reduce conflicts, as well as to shorten the time span and reduce workplace distractions. If you are a supervisor or are in a leadership role, your responsibility is to intervene and stop workplace distraction. You can do this by helping those involved to calm down and regain their composure. It is best for them to de-stress and get themselves together before they answer your questions about what is wrong and what they would like to see happen to address their concerns. If you are the one in a drama, try to end it before it escalates. Don’t let yourself be drawn into unprofessional behaviour at work. Wait until the other person has calmed down, then apologize for the discomfort they experienced and come up with a solution together.
Lastly, I want to end with a few tips on workplace drama. They include learning to listen to other people, remember to respect others feelings, clarify the information you think you may have heard before you act, keep your opinions to yourself, remember to apologize if you hurt someone else’s feelings, come to work on time, avoid gossip and rumours. Don’t over exaggerate situations and annoy your co-workers, remember people lose respect for you if they think you are a liar. Do not misrepresent yourself, don’t share overly private information at work. Choose your friends at work; not everyone you work with knows how to have healthy relationships. Sometimes, when the lines get blurred, people get confused about how to treat you. Remember, not everyone learnt the same manners at home as you did, and yes, some of your co-workers may just have different values from you. That doesn’t make them bad;it just makes them not the right fit for the relationship you are seeking.
Bio: Joyce Odidison, M.A, PCC
Conflict Analyst, Strategist, Workplace Wellness Improvement Coach
Joyce Odidison is President of Interpersonal Wellness Services,Inc & Coaching Institute since 1997. Joyce is the founder of Manitoba’s only internationally recognized coach training certificate program, approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF). The ICF is the largest governing body for coaches globally. Joyce has 20 years’ experience as a trainer and facilitator, is a member of the Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD) and has worked with many large and medium size companies in Manitoba. Joyce is a professional certified coach, a strategist, conflict analyst and workplace wellness consultant, known for creating successful results oriented corporate programs and systems. Joyce is an author of four books and the creator of the Wellness Improvement System (WIS) programs.