Dealing with Difficult Situations and People: Practical Tips I
Dealing with Difficult Situations at work
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Transcript of Dealing with Difficult Situations at work
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
• We know the feeling: – Our patience is nearly ending,
we are about ready to throw our fist through a wall or we are on the verge of tears.
– The steam is pouring out of our ears.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkIntroduction
• When we work with the same people day in and day out, chances are we will eventually encounter a situation that can be very “explosive”.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkOur Daily Working Environment
• When we find ourselves in a volatile situation fueled by anger, frustration, or any other highly unstable emotion we need to be very careful about our attitudes since they can damage our career and our professional networking.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkImportant
• We should be able to lighten the mood by using a little humor to show we are not taking it too seriously.
• We need to reduce the level of stress, allowing everybody to think about the whole situation.
• Be careful since we don’t want to give the impression that the other person’s feelings are not important.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkStrategy 01 – Inject Humor
• Involving a respected third party can help both sides feel that they are being heard
• If the person is truly neutral, and respected by both of us, the decision should be considered fair, balanced and acceptable by all.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkStrategy 02 – Invite a third party to mediate
• We should change our perspective about the situation and consider many different points-of-view.
• Maybe the whole situation is not about us or what is going on.
• If our co-worker is going through a messy divorce, we might have a little more patience when he doesn’t behave well.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkStrategy 03 – Shift Perspective
• Being stubborn typically doesn’t get us very far.
• We should avoid the “I am completely right” since we can overlook the possibility of creating an equitable solution.
• Compromise is a necessity for any relationship, professional or personal and remember together, we can then create a solution.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkStrategy 04 - Compromise
• All too often we get consumed with the idea of being right.
• Even if we are right, it may be appropriate to concede and simply wave the white flag.
• Non-stop arguments can potentially damage our long term relationship with any person, causing irreparable harm to our ability to work together.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkStrategy 05 - Surrender
• Establish facts first.• Ask lots of questions.• Actively listen.• Avoid pre-judgement.• Act professionally.• Aim for win-win.• Remember there is no one size
fits all approach.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work07 Important Tips
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 01 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemA co-worker has the
annoying habit of doing something that
you can’t stand anymore.
Main Aspects Obsessively clicking pens. Playing music too loudly. Chewing gum like a cow
munching on grass.
Strategy• Make sure that you aren’t
guilty of something as annoying yourself.
• See what you can do to block out the habit that annoys you.
• Invest in headphones, and try to focus on something else.
• If you really can’t put up with, then politely ask your co-
worker to refrain. Tell them that you get easily distracted.
• Above all, be nice about it.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 02 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemYou suspect someone
in the office is working
against you.
Main Aspects Your paranoia gets the
better of you. You’re put in defensive
mode, and you begin actively working against the
possible offender.
Strategy• You need to be aware that
most people are not out to get you. Recognize that, and half
the problem is gone. • Dealing with a competitive
worker can be accomplished by simply doing your work
the best you can. • And remember the only one
who you are really competing against is yourself.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 03 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemA co-worker tries to
engage you in a heated religious or
political conversation.
Main Aspects Politics and religion are
almost always a big no-no in the workplace.
Controversial conversations can quickly turn into
animosity.
Strategy• Just don’t talk about religion
or politics. • If someone asks for your
opinion, try to steer the conversation elsewhere, or
laugh it off and say something neutral.
• If you feel it is necessary, leave the place out.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 04 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemA co-worker or
superior makes an inappropriate physical
advance
Main Aspects Broken office romance. An unwanted pass can
spawn gossip, discomfort, or even professional and
personal danger.
Strategy• Be fast to deal with this
situation.• Do not ignore sexual advances
and assume that they will go away.
• Tell the perpetrator (in private) that you aren’t
interested and uncomfortable, and that you want his or her
behavior to stop. • Make sure he or she knows
that you will file an official complaint.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 05 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemA co-worker incites you to participate in a nasty office
gossip
Main Aspects Participating in gossip may
be tempting, but it’s almost always ill-advised.
When you participate in gossip, you run the risk of
offending coworkers.
Strategy• Stay away from notorious
gossips. • When someone tries to share
office gossip with you, try changing the conversation, or
simply tell them that you don’t like talking about others because you don’t like it when
people talk about you.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 06 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemSomeone is stealing your food from the
refrigerator.
Main Aspects The stealing becomes
habitual. You decide to let it slide.
You go hungry and resentment builds.
Confrontation ensues.
Strategy• Put your food in some sort of
container, and make sure to label it with your name.
• If it keeps happening, ask, in a non-accusatory manner, if anyone has seen your food
items. • If all else fails, you can
always purchase a small personal fridge and keep it
under your desk.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkSituation 07 - Problems and Strategies
Main ProblemYour boss overloads you with tasks that aren’t in your work
description
Main Aspects At first it starts out with
little things, like “Do you mind doing this?”
Eventually, you become your boss’ slave.
Strategy• You just have to learn the best
way to say no to your boss.• Meet with the boss to review
your work description. • If it becomes an ongoing
problem, go to HR. • We would also suggest a transfer to another department
or looking for a new job because some bosses just
won’t change.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at WorkOur Business Contacts
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