Ever experienced that brutal commute to work? The one where you dread going into the office because you know what kind of drama awaits you upon arrival. The storm that has been brewing amongst your coworkers has become fierce, and there are tense moments and spiteful conversations around every corner. Not really the environment you long to return to again tomorrow, right?
Bickering among coworkers can create a draining and miserable experience for the whole office. Productivity is forced to a halt when we spend half of our time at work settling disputes, choosing sides and beating down the door to HR with various accusations. For many, your workplace bears a striking resemblance to that of Dunder Mifflin. Those circumstances that we might laugh about on our favorite episodes of The Office are all too realistic.
So, how can we maintain a harmonious atmosphere at work despite the constant drama and arguing? The first step is to take yourself out of the circle of influence. We’ve all heard the common definition of insanity, which is doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting a different result. Those who continue to take part in the same confrontation about the same subject matter every week need to step back and reassess the situation. Every individual has their own opinion, and those opinions are not likely to be easily swayed, at least not overnight.
If positive and lasting change is going to creep back into your workplace, then action must be taken to stop the negative cycle of bitter interaction. If you wish to avoid that long drive into the office each morning and, instead, be filled with an eager expectation for a successful day ahead, then it is up to you to set the stage for harmony and focus. If you cling tightly to your desire to get your work done in an efficient manner and avoid any conversations that will lead to distraction, then you are leading by example and painting an accurate picture of what your company was meant to look like.
No one sets off into a career with the desire to be miserable. No one starts a new job with the hope of having zero friends at work. Rather, we all wish to work in an environment that brings out the best in ourselves and the best in others. Choose, today, to be the one who is less interested in the daily drama and more interested in enjoying your job.
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