Drama Not Allowed: How to Deal with Business Environment Conflict
Be patient, clarify, talk in person.
Keeping your business environment as drama free as possible can be harder than it sounds, but ultimately it is up to you! Here are four important rules to follow in order to steer clear of the drama at work:
Have Patience
Having patience is probably the most important rule of all, and I can’t stress that enough. It is easy to get all fired up right away and want to respond to a negative email in just the same way or snap at someone, but if you just take a few minutes to regain control of the situation and think of an appropriate response it will work out much better in the end.
Never Assume
While it is easy to think that you know what the person is intending to say (specially over email), that is not always the case. It is always better to get clarification before responding to what you are “assuming” they meant. Your attitude will also play a big role in how you interpret things, because if you are looking for drama, then that is exactly what you are going to find.
In Person Is Better
This rule ties into our previous ones perfectly; it is usually best to go right to the source. If you are having a problem with someone, or are unclear about how they intended to come across, then the best thing to do is talk to them in private about the situation. Most often it is just a simple case of misunderstanding, one that can be resolved quickly and without getting other people involved.
Stay Away
If there are people in your office that are known to cause or start drama, then just stay away. If you can distance yourself from these people then you will be distancing yourself from the drama, making your workplace environment much better.
When it comes to drama in the workplace the best thing to do is just avoid it if possible and to remember to stop and think before responding. As long as you remember to treat people with respect and to wait before making a snap judgment, your business environment can remain drama free.
Sources: https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-basic-rules-you-need-to-follow-if-you-truly-want-to-avoid-office-drama http://psychcentral.com/lib/5-tips-for-handling-workplace-drama/
The Culture Counts blog is a discussion of law firm culture and legal innovation, including topics such as effective leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, ideal work environment, company core values, and workplace productivity.
Sign up for and explore our content and thought leadership here.
About the Firm:
Klemchuk LLP is a litigation, intellectual property, transactional, and international business law firm dedicated to protecting innovation. The firm provides tailored legal solutions to industries including software, technology, retail, real estate, consumer goods, ecommerce, telecommunications, restaurant, energy, media, and professional services. The firm focuses on serving mid-market companies seeking long-term, value-added relationships with a law firm. Learn more about experiencing law practiced differently and our local counsel practice.
The firm publishes Intellectual Property Trends (latest developments in IP law), Conversations with Innovators (interviews with thought leaders), Leaders in Law (insights from law leaders), Culture Counts (thoughts on law firm culture and business), and Legal Insights (in-depth analysis of IP, litigation, and transactional law).
Pin it for later: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/315252042651408348/