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[D81]Dealing With Difficult People In The Workplace

by Jack Skipton, Jac

Have you been having problems at work, namely problems with your boss or your coworkers? If you have, you are not alone. Workplace conflicts are a lot more common than you may have originally thought. You and many others may have problems with a coworker, a supervisor, or both. When faced with a workplace conflict, you will want to be careful, as your actions can have consequences.

When it comes to handing workplace conflicts, there are a number of different factors that you will want to take into consideration. One of those factors is the situation or who you may have a conflict with. If your conflict is with a coworker, you may want to speak with one of your supervisors. On the other hand, if you are having a conflict with your supervisor, you may be able to go above their head and deal with another member of management.

Speaking of having workplace conflicts with a coworker, it is important to note that you need to proceed with caution, especially when reporting their behavior to your supervisor. You need to remember that even the best of workplaces have cliques. You will want to make sure that your supervisor isn't close with the person in question. Even if a relationship does exist, you can still take your concerns to your boss, but you just need to do so in a pleasant and professional way. You will want to avoid, at all costs, sounding like you are spiteful or gossiping.

On the other hand, if you have a problem or a workplace conflict with your supervisor, you will want to consider going above their head, especially if the conflict you are having is a major one. Major conflict can involve unfair treatment, unpaid overtime, and so forth. Unless you are dealing directly with the owner of your company, you will likely find that your supervisor has a boss and so on. When speaking with a supervisor, especially one who is ahead of your own manager, you will be as professional as possible. You will want to try and schedule a meeting in person. You may have to make arrangements over the phone or through email, but you should refrain from divulging too much information at first.

As previously stated, it is important that you are professional when handling any workplace conflict. It may be a good idea to keep documentation of all the complaints or problems you would like to bring attention to. For example, you may want to write down the time and date and a summary of what happens each time that you may be harassed, even if it is not sexual in nature. You will want to have documented proof to back up your claims, especially the serious ones. The last thing that you want to do in a meeting with your supervisor or even their supervisor is come off as unprofessional or as the one with the issues.

The above mentioned methods are just a few of the many ways that you can go about trying to resolve any conflicts that you may be having at work. Any small issues, such as a coworker wearing a strong perfume, should try to be handled privately first. If you are unable to see success, especially after supervisors have been alerted, you may then want to consider seeking employment elsewhere, but you may want to use this only as a last resort.

One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is workplace stress. After all, you need to go to work and there are plenty of things to worry about once you get there. However, that does not mean that workplace stress is unavoidable. Just like other kinds of stress, there are ways to manage workplace stress and there are ways to avoid it. Maybe you cannot avoid it entirely, but that is no reason not to try.

Workplace stress usually takes the form of everything needing to get done right now. You know the situation, there are a dozen things on your plate and they all need attention, but there are only so many hours in the day and you cannot attend to everything all at once. On top of that, the boss is breathing down your neck, asking you where the report/plan/program is and he also has a pile of other tasks for you once you finish that. It is a never-ending cycle, but it can be managed.

The first thing you need to do to avoid workplace stress is to focus on one task at a time. Do not try to multi-task, as it jars your system. Switching gears between projects does make demands on your brain and it takes a moment to change your thoughts from one place to another. Instead, if you focus on one project, you can keep your thoughts and energy in one place, preventing you from having to shift gears too often.

However, the big problem with trying to keep your focus is your coworkers. They will always be asking you for a quick minute or they will want you to answer their question, or they will want you to come over and help them on something. Try to deflect these as much as possible, as these can distract your focus. Thus, you must learn to say, "no." This is a highly effective word, though you may want to change it to, "No, not right now," or, "As soon as I am done with this." These little phrases can at least buy you some time to finish what you are doing, then switch comfortably to the needs of your coworkers.

There is another cause of workplace stress that can also cause you all manner of difficulty and that is when your concentration runs out. Oftentimes, you may find yourself focusing on the same page or the same computer screen for minutes at a time and you still have no idea what it is supposed to mean. This is not good, as it means that you are not being effective, your brain has shut down and the deadline is looming over you and you just need to get through this. Your best plan at this point is to walk away from your desk. Get up, get a cup of coffee (but not too often, as caffeine can heighten stress), go to the bathroom, anything. Walk the corridors for a minute or two and clear the cobwebs. This is highly effective both for ensuring that you are getting work done and for keeping workplace stress to a minimum.

Another way to prevent workplace stress is to learn some desk exercises. These can be simply squeezing a stress ball, or performing a few stretches while you are at your desk. By working your muscles at your desk, you can improve your circulation and help your keep alert and aware at work. Obviously, you are not going to get a full body workout while you are pecking at a keyboard, but it can help you at least keep your mind focused.

Finally, while you are at work you should examine your environment to see if it is right for you. How is the noise level? Is your desk set up properly? Are you comfortable? Is everything set up so that it is ergonomically correct? Your body needs to be comfortable if you want to work without distraction and distractions can lead to workplace stress. Thus, your work area needs to be set up for you. Take care of the little things around you and you will be able to work confidently and work well.

Workplace stress is, in many ways, part of working. However, by managing workplace stress properly, you can at least keep it to a minimum. And by doing that, work will be much more pleasant and you will be much more productive. So take care of yourself and the area around you and workplace stress will not control your day.

Article Source : work stress relief

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Both Jack Skipton & Trevor Dumbleton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jack Skipton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Office Chairs, Office Chairs and Stress Management. Learn about and. Jack Skipton's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.

Trevor Dumbleton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management, Wellness and Guided Meditation. Trevor Dumbleton is the owner of http://www.LowerYourStress.com/ a categorized resource directory for everything to do with stress.. Trevor Dumbleton's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.