If
you have something good to say about a colleague, tell them. It will make
their day. Otherwise, if you want to bitch about it then you know what to
do - just log onto the messageboard. OK!!
Every
day thousands of workers are at each others throats as a result of mismangaged
anger. Managers are directly involved in the violent actions of disgruntled
employees. Part of the problem fueling anger and violence at the worksite is
that many people have attitudes about themselves, about others and about life
that predispose them to behave in ways that are irrational and detrimental towards
others.
As
a manager your company are likely to have sent you on a course on how to deal
with awkward customers and how to handle difficult situations. But, have they
ever sent you on a course on how to deal with awkward COLLEAGUES? Now that's
a mindfield. From experience you need a mini course in politics to manoeuvre
the office and the work place. You can never quite please everyone, someone
is always on the defensive about something. As a good manager you will need
to be able to treat everyone the same (fairly) but treat them all differently
(tactically). What you say and how you say it will be of utmost importance in
the office. Diplomacy & tactfullness is really key for a good manager to
have.
Many
people are "culturally incompetent". They aren't open to others ways
of seeing, doing & understanding things and lack information about other
people beliefs, values & practices, therefore, unable to talk about their
differences. Conflicts quickly arise, making cooperation difficult, sometimes
impossible. This kind of cultural incompetence is often perceived as disrespect
and is the trigger for anger, with violent consequences. I have found that most
of the inter-employee problems, manager/employee problems arise out of this
negative context of cultural ignorance. When we learn how to make the transition
from mistaken attitudes & expectations of others to more appropriate ones,
our lives at work take on new meaning.
