Any corporate organisation is a place where ideas are bounced off, suggestions are pitched and views are exchanged.
It is not unlikely then that arguments , disagreements, creative conflicts and differences of opinion often abound.
When handled with maturity they can prove to be productive, but if workplace arguments are not stemmed in time, they can escalate into unsavoury power clashes and cause major fault lines in professional relationships.
The discussion table at the workplace is a pool of myriad persons and viewpoints. As a result there are chances of friction between employees due to dissimilar thought processes.
Human Resources (HR) professional Reena Rodrigues* says, “Two employees may not necessarily share the same opinion on an issue. But getting into arguments with others is not the solution. There are appropriate ways to put forth one’s views without being offensive.”
Baseless arguments at the workplace not only affect one’s appraisal but also damage inter-personal relationships.
Seconding this Neha Dongre, a software engineer, states, “At the office if you get into an argument for any reason, your reputation goes for a toss. Besides, there is no point in arguing with someone who does not understand what you are trying to say. If you feel you are right, it is best to remain silent and maintain one’s dignity.”
To minimise nasty verbal encounters here are some of the things that one should keep in mind:
Respect the difference: The workplace has persons with different sensibilities and approaches collaborating in the interest of the organisation . Clashes are bound to happen. One should weigh the pros and cons of others’ views and respect the differences , if any.
In case of disagreements outright arguing is not the solution. Rodrigues adds, “Issues can always be amicably settled with mutual appreciation.”
Avoid overlap: Another reason verbal duels get ugly between colleagues is when personal prejudices begin affecting professional ties. At work, one should judge a person according to his/her capabilities and not settle personal scores. There should not be blurring of personal and professional boundaries.
Watch that tongue: Any dispute that arises should be settled in keeping with the office protocol. One can approach the personnel department or seniors, in case the situation demands. Getting abusive or using unparliamentary language is a professional blot and can invite serious trouble. It should be strictly avoided.
Take a step forward: Even if for some reason differences with colleagues have crept up, egos aside, one should make an effort to restore cordial relations. Such timely measures, help in maintaining the organisational discipline .
Accept your mistake: Ignorance is also one of the reasons arguments take place. Before countering someone, it is advisable to verify the information one has. As Dongre puts it, “If you are wrong, there is no point in arguing.” But not all arguments are useless. Rodrigues elaborates, “There are some arguments which do contain valid points. If its crux is found to be worthy, it can be harnessed to its full potential.”
PARTING SHOT
Constant arguments at the workplace do more harm than good. It makes one unpopular among co-workers and seniors and affects one’s own state of mind. Besides, adhering to office discipline is also important. Any point of concern should be voiced in a reasonable manner and through the right channel.
But at the same time, despite one’s best efforts to keep calm, there might be unpleasant elements at the workplace causing unnecessary arguments and tiffs or there may be instances when one is subjected to injustice in some form or the other.
In such cases being a doormat does not help. One should rely on self-experience , tact and diplomacy to tackle the situation. Assistance of concerned authorities should be sought if required.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Being the Boss
Being the boss is never easy, but going from being a team member to being a team leader is even tougher. After all, how can you expect your teammates to see you as a ‘boss’ overnight?
Belting out orders and cracking the whip on your team is not going to work unless you are aiming for the ‘dragon lady’ title. So how do you go from taking orders to giving them?
Follow these simple rules and being the boss could actually be easy.
Listen to Your Teammates
While you may be right most often , it’s a good idea to be open to feedback. Keep the communication lines open. Have an opendoor policy that allows your teammates to speak to you whenever they want.
“My boss’s cabin is just next to my desk, so I can pop in any time. I can be honest with her if I’m having trouble with a deadline or facing any issues with the office infrastructure. She cannot always fix everything, but she helps us find alternative solutions ,” says Smita Diwan, a PR professional.
Don't Play Divide-and-Rule
There is competition everywhere. Your job is to see that competition remains healthy at all times. Promote unity and encourage teamwork.
Make it a point to discourage gossip and backbiting. While praising one person, you don’t have to pull down another. Instead, identify each one’s strengths and highlight them.
Provide Incentives
Work satisfaction is too small an incentive these days. Set up challenges for the team and promise a reward for the one who meets them. Movie tickets or a meal at a fancy restaurant can go a long way in instilling motivation for your team.
“At my previous company, I used to really look forward to the monthly team lunches and the half-yearly outing that used to be organised by my boss,” says Aparna Menon, a BPO executive. It's a great way to build team spirit and make work all the more fun.
Don't Steal Credit
When you have a team, it’s easy to get them to do all the work and then take credit for it. So here’s what you do instead: once a target is completed, send out an email mentioning each one’s contribution to your entire team and mark your seniors on it.
This way, everyone gets their rightful due. Also, make sure to recommend your subordinates to the management and help them get ahead in their careers.
Set the Rules and Stick by them
It’s easy to make rules, but do you obey them yourself? If not, then you might want to start leading by example.
“We have to be in office by 10am and the good part is my boss is always there on time too,” says Josh Davidson, a media consultant.
Keep the Communication Lines Open
“Also, he’s never too rigid. Once we are done with work, we can leave for the day.” If you’ve set a rule that no one seems to obey (not even you), then you might be going overboard.
Follow these simple guidelines and be assured that your team will enjoy working with you.
Belting out orders and cracking the whip on your team is not going to work unless you are aiming for the ‘dragon lady’ title. So how do you go from taking orders to giving them?
Follow these simple rules and being the boss could actually be easy.
Listen to Your Teammates
While you may be right most often , it’s a good idea to be open to feedback. Keep the communication lines open. Have an opendoor policy that allows your teammates to speak to you whenever they want.
“My boss’s cabin is just next to my desk, so I can pop in any time. I can be honest with her if I’m having trouble with a deadline or facing any issues with the office infrastructure. She cannot always fix everything, but she helps us find alternative solutions ,” says Smita Diwan, a PR professional.
Don't Play Divide-and-Rule
There is competition everywhere. Your job is to see that competition remains healthy at all times. Promote unity and encourage teamwork.
Make it a point to discourage gossip and backbiting. While praising one person, you don’t have to pull down another. Instead, identify each one’s strengths and highlight them.
Provide Incentives
Work satisfaction is too small an incentive these days. Set up challenges for the team and promise a reward for the one who meets them. Movie tickets or a meal at a fancy restaurant can go a long way in instilling motivation for your team.
“At my previous company, I used to really look forward to the monthly team lunches and the half-yearly outing that used to be organised by my boss,” says Aparna Menon, a BPO executive. It's a great way to build team spirit and make work all the more fun.
Don't Steal Credit
When you have a team, it’s easy to get them to do all the work and then take credit for it. So here’s what you do instead: once a target is completed, send out an email mentioning each one’s contribution to your entire team and mark your seniors on it.
This way, everyone gets their rightful due. Also, make sure to recommend your subordinates to the management and help them get ahead in their careers.
Set the Rules and Stick by them
It’s easy to make rules, but do you obey them yourself? If not, then you might want to start leading by example.
“We have to be in office by 10am and the good part is my boss is always there on time too,” says Josh Davidson, a media consultant.
Keep the Communication Lines Open
“Also, he’s never too rigid. Once we are done with work, we can leave for the day.” If you’ve set a rule that no one seems to obey (not even you), then you might be going overboard.
Follow these simple guidelines and be assured that your team will enjoy working with you.
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