Office drama—it happens in offices large and small and can play out in the form of office cliques or cattiness. Or, conflict may bubble up as a result of decisions from higher-ups. No matter what kind of office drama you experience in your workplace, it’s always best to stay out of it.
Mandy Gilbert, founder and chief executive of Creative Niche, says that while it may feel impossible to avoid office drama, you can follow certain rules to ensure you stay out of the gossip and focused on what matters. In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share Gilbert’s three rules for steering clear of office drama.
1. Save the venting for outside the office. Gilbert admits this can be challenging at times, but you must resist the urge to talk about your co-workers or boss while you’re still in the office. It might just seem like casual chit-chat to mention that someone didn’t meet their monthly sales goals or so-and-so has been taking extra-long lunch breaks. However, these seemingly innocent remarks somehow always manage to find their way back to the exact person you were talking about. Remind yourself that venting about someone usually doesn’t solve the problem. Instead, it only ramps up the negativity. It’s best to spare everyone the drama and focus your energy on conflict resolution, rather than fueling the fire.
2. Remember that attitude is everything. A negative attitude in the workplace can spread like wildfire. Everyone must go to work, and we may not always love every minute of it, but it’s up to you to decide how to handle it. No one wants to hear constant moaning and groaning about the workload or the leadership team. It’s your choice whether you fall victim to complaining with your co-workers or walk to your desk with a sense of purpose and passion for your job. Gilbert confesses she has had her fair share of bad days when it’s hard to feel motivated but having the right attitude will help you stay immune to any potential drama around you.
3. Stop overanalyzing. People have a tendency to be their own worst enemy at times. Gilbert says after she finishes a conversation, she’ll go back to her desk and immediately start mulling it over. She often learns that she misinterpreted someone’s tone or meaning completely. Chances are, whatever your colleague or boss has said to you is exactly what they meant.
There’s going to be some degree of drama in the workplace. It’s important to not engage in it and stay drama-free. The next time you hear gossip at the water cooler, reflect on the rules above to avoid becoming involved.
Source: Mandy Gilbert is the founder and chief executive of Creative Niche, a company that provides creative staffing and workforce management solutions to multinational corporations as well as major advertising, digital and public relations agencies. She is also the co-founder of RED Academy, a technology and design school.
