It is common to find yourself caught up in office conflicts. Pearl Mathias lists out some preventive measures that will help minimize or eliminate these unwanted issues
The inevitable leap from the classroom to a workroom is anything but an easy run. You may have landed your dream job but there are very few things that your degree can prepare you for once you’re seated at your workstation. Work etiquette may come naturally to some, although in majority of the cases you need to bear a few things in mind in order to be at your professional best.
* Loud colleagues
These fun, bubbly people are alright to be around during breaks or afterhours, but if they are being constantly meddlesome, you need to press pause on them. It becomes difficult to work alongside a person who is loud and has no regard whatsoever about someone else’s work getting disrupted. Don’t lose your cool on them and don’t even ignore their behavior; doing either can result in the loss of a friendship or less peace of mind for you. Go up to them when they’re alone and politely request them to keep their voice down around you when you’re in the middle of something. If this doesn’t work after a while, go up to your senior and ask him to shift you to someplace more quiet.
* Take, but don’t give
There are those who feel the immediate need to borrow a pencil, your post-it’s or even a book from your desk while you’re gone. You seat yourself at your desk only to realize your favourite stuff is missing. You shouldn’t turn them down forthrightly. Hand them over your supplies when they need it, but make sure you go over to their workstation a couple of hours later and ask them to return your things, saying you need to use them as well. If they make excuses while returning them, don’t lash out on them. You can keep your things locked in a drawer if you have one or get yourself a small box for your supplies which you can keep locked at the end of the day.
* Office politics
Who doesn’t want to be a part of the cool group at work? The people who chill out, poke fun, even plan out the after work scenes. But what usually comes along with this group is incessant talking, more like gossiping, about co-workers. Although it won’t kill to indulge in some juicy stories, don’t let yourself get caught up in these frivolous talks. Always remember, a person who talks about someone else to you, will also talk about you to someone else. You can spend time with them, don’t dismiss their company altogether. Be careful about getting involved in unwanted drama thus leading to sourness in relationships.
* Talking about the boss
One common mistake that people make is cribbing and complaining about their boss to their co-workers. It’s a given that you won’t completely love your boss at the initial stages and sometimes till much later on in your job. Those feelings should never be strong enough to compel you to talk behind his back. Although it’s a very common mishap that takes place and is considered normal in office’s today; it’s better to set yourself apart before getting into this negative groove. There will be days when your superior will be unnecessarily expectant of you, what you should do is call up a friend out of office and vent out your frustration or just take a few deep breaths, try to keep yourself calm at that moment and remind yourself that, this too shall pass.
* Restrict your use of social media
You may be tempted to check your phone and facebook every 10 minutes, like you did in your college days when you had a lot of time to spare. However, this habit needs to go as soon as possible because if you’re spotted whiling away your time on social media when you have work on your hands, you’ll end up in the boss’s cabin soon. You may not have a lot of work on a particular day but try keeping yourself busy by reading about things that matter, sites you won’t get pulled up for. You don’t want to seem like you’re not interested in your work from the start itself.
* Don’t divulge too much
You may connect with someone real quick and feel like they’re your new best friend already; but try to get to know them better before baring your soul to them. It’s not that you can’t trust them, but it’s too soon to pour your heart out to someone you haven’t known more than two weeks. The same goes for a person of the opposite sex you might find attractive. Don’t jump into a relationship because you start to feel comfortable around a boy or girl. Talk to them and try to enjoy their company first before fantasizing about possibilities of the future. The reverse also applies in this case. If a colleague bares stories of her life to you and they seem a tad bit personal, make sure you don’t disclose it to people around. It’s very easy to be a blabbermouth, but no one enjoys the consequences.
* Your dress code
Every company requires its employees to follow a fixed dress code. You’re lucky if you are allowed to go to work dressed casually. If not, then you should appear dressed formally, because the rules apply to everyone. You should bear in mind that low-cut, tight fitting and short clothing at work is a bad idea. It can let you down and award you with a negative reputation and poor judgment in the office. It doesn’t matter if your wardrobe is limited, make sure you always have a neat appearance.
* Treat your organization as your own
You got through a series of interviews to get to this place today. Don’t make the mistake of taking it for granted. Treat your organization as your own and invest into it genuinely and not just because you’ve landed there. Take your work seriously and put maximum effort into it, not just at the start but all through. You may feel like you’re not getting the necessary credit or praise, but that isn’t what your work should be about. You should engage in your work because that’s what you love doing and it’ll show in time. You can’t begin to imagine the ways you’ll be appreciated in the long run. Don’t spend your work hours looking for something better out there, it’s common knowledge that the mind perceives the grass to always be greener on the other side. Start by watering the field on your end and before you know it, you’re a young professional.
Volume 5 Issue 9
