Ever find yourself running low on patience or feel like pulling your hair out when working with certain colleagues? You are not alone. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that managers typically spend 25-40 percent of their time dealing with workplace conflicts. Of course some positions, companies, and industries are worse than others (based on education level), but even the best firms, who recruit for talent and diversity, have experienced how opposing forces such as butting egos can result in a loss of productivity.
When a boardroom, sports team, classroom, or anything else for that matter consists of a diverse group of people where almost all possess unique views, skills, personality types, and agendas, it's foolish to believe everyone can engage harmoniously on a constant basis.
So if frustration and confrontation are both inevitable, should we opt out of all group activities, seek permission to work from home, and disengage? Of course not, but according to a 2013 Gallup Poll, approximately 87 percent of employees world wide already have. The vast majority of workers lack the motivation to be engaged or support company initiatives. In essence, they have emotionally checked out. Unfortunately, such shortsightedness typically occurs after people lose respect for their colleagues, management teams, and possibly themselves. This is almost never the case at the onset, but apparently it doesn't take long for employees to switch from a can do attitude to a won't do, and like it or not a self-centered attitude entices such change.
When employees disengage at work they're not opposing the company, they're abandoning the people.
In many organizations around the world the workplace has become a siloed and cutthroat environment, and with so many throats cut it's no surprise when employees act as mentally numb and insensitive as zombies. Without a passion and commitment for the job or mutual respect for colleagues, employees show up each day solely to feed on a paycheck, if they bother to show up at all. In addition, BLS reports employees who take off from work due to employee conflict will be off the job for approximately 21 days; which means the company also loses, as a great deal of productivity is shamelessly wasted.
For those who find themselves suffering from impatience or an intolerance for the shortcomings of others, take a deep breath and consider what you could be doing better. This is definitely not easy to do, especially when dealing with colleagues who are polar opposites. For me nothing is more off putting than the clock watchers or those who give up easily and just don't care to make the effort to perform well.
Even though every workplace consists of such people, I cannot begin to emphasize the importance of maintaining a high degree of camaraderie in the office. Never lose sight of the fact that you are working in a team environment and when you quit on any one team member, the act becomes more and more common until it is eventually automatic going forward.
When we embrace the goals of bettering ourselves, our colleagues, and the company in general, we promote a productive work environment comprised of professionalism and respect that leads to employee engagement and job satisfaction. Gallup studies show that people who are engaged at work are happier throughout the day and twice as likely to be thriving in their lives overall. So instead of looking for ways to avoid your boss and colleagues, digest these few tips on how to exercise patience, avoid conflict, and better connect with them.
Be realistic:
We can all be very quick to form a first impression and many maintain a strong bias from there. We must be forgiving of people who have bad days and never be too quick to wash our hands with them. Many adopt a zero tolerance mindset when it comes to putting up with incompetence or any other potential flaws of colleagues, but ironically, this is the only place where they are getting paid to do so. It's nearly impossible to find one relationship where there hasn't been conflict or a scenario that required great patience ... a child, spouse, in-law, sibling, friend? Yet, we nearly spend more time with colleagues than all others and expect everything to always be peachy. Make the effort to afford coworkers with your very best and remain optimistic that they'll be compelled to reciprocate and pay it forward.
Knowing is understanding:
Take the initiative to heighten your level of awareness, as possessing the right knowledge is key to success. Start by assessing the attributes of your personality type and compare the results against those of your colleagues. This will help to provide some of the insights needed to work well with others. Myers Briggs did everything necessary to facilitate this assessment ... Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®)
Capitalize from tough opposition:
More will be learned from one person who opposes all of your views than from an entire team who agrees with them. Unfortunately, working with the yes man or woman is much easier; which is partially why so many still exist at present day. When someone counters your claim take that as a challenge to build a stronger case and work harder. If you are working in corporate America, you will likely come across departments or sites that have conflicting goals. Win debates by actively listening to and understanding the challenges of the opposition, and then build solutions for the bigger picture into your plan.
Focus on the goal:
Do not let difficult or incompetent people derail you from the true goal at hand. Even though people make the company, it is the company that pays the people. Stay productive and do everything in your power to be a growing asset to the company. Remember that strong teams always outperform strong individuals, so when you find yourself in a meeting where tempers flare do whatever you can to quickly stop the bickering. Afterwards, encourage teammates to bury the hatchet and focus on the important task at hand.
Prove to be flexible:
In corporate America change is the only thing that remains constant. So even if your views are spot on for today, that doesn't mean they're best for tomorrow. Without a moment's notice news of a new business strategy, cost-cutting initiative, system upgrade, or change in leadership could hit the wire to make the road ahead incredibly stressful. The most successful employees willingly adapt to such changes, and so should you. Once you learn how to embrace change, push your skills even further and prove to be flexible by working towards the needs of others. When we each place the time and care towards how we communicate with, manage, and treat others, the entire organization wins.
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