Going to work is a high pressure proposition everyday - you may have felt it the moment your feet hit the floor this morning. People wonder whether their jobs are safe, whether the business will be sold or even whether or not their boss likes them. These worries make every issue in the office bigger than they often need to be, creating the potential for conflict and disagreement throughout the day. You may be saying to yourself, 'yeah, he's right and I wish someone would make this place a little easier to get along in.'
Well, today's the day and you are the someone. No sense waiting around for others to make it better when you have the power yourself to do it. I recently read a book by Ken Sande entitled Peacemaker. I don't have the space to lay it all out, but I recommend the book quite highly. In relating it to the day you're about to have, I suggest you get ready to do 3 things that you might never have done at work:
Well, today's the day and you are the someone. No sense waiting around for others to make it better when you have the power yourself to do it. I recently read a book by Ken Sande entitled Peacemaker. I don't have the space to lay it all out, but I recommend the book quite highly. In relating it to the day you're about to have, I suggest you get ready to do 3 things that you might never have done at work:
1. Overlook A Small Offense. This won't be hard to find as little offenses happen against you all day long. You are interrupted during a staff meeting - while making a very good point I might add - by someone who couldn't wait to make their comments heard. Let it go, and start your input again as if nothing happened. Your gracious action will be noted by others and you'll have set a great example.
2. Apologize For Something You Said or Did. Face it, we've all offended someone at some point in a meeting. Asking a question that sounded more accusatory than curious while trying make points with the highest ranking person in the room. Rolling your eyes or monitoring your critically important email while someone was making a presentation (chief of sinners here). Go tell them you're sorry - yep they noticed and they'll appreciate your honesty. You'll have cooled them down and taken ownership of your own bad behavior. It might not hurt to offer to help them with their idea too.
3. Speak Well of Someone Being Gossipped About. It's very easy to jump on the 'kick someone else around' bandwagon. It's even possible they might deserve a certain amount of it and that everything being said is absolutely true. You still need to demonstrate some leadership and find something kind to say about them. It will kill the gossip session and many times participants will realize they shouldn't be talking that way about their colleagues. If you are uninvited from the gripe sessions - good - you don't need to spend time there anyway.
