Office Politics

I recently read about work place bullies and I wonder often it occurs, or, if indirectly, I am a bully. Granted, my office is rather small these days, with 4 peers in this office and our admin team in the next room, but, I think that this topic is a vital one to assess in all work places. In every place that I have worked, it seems that the biggest area of concern when it came to a place running smoothing was to be honest about people’s shortcomings (in a constructive way) and praising people’s assets or contributions (sincerely).

The ill-will between colleagues and the decay of a sense of community in a business, school or organization stems from people’s inability to confront the little (and sometimes large) issues that arise. An action that challenges the established office or group norms or expectations of the work place sets the conflict ball rolling. The issue of interpreting rules leads to the concepts of fairness and ethics. The non-perpetrators take the apparently “easy” way out and discuss the perpetrator behind their back.

The alternative, of expressing your feelings—and ultimately getting the heart of the matter and probably reconciling the issue—is more difficult to take on. People fear conflict, but have no problem stirring up and intensifying that conflict-feelings by the back room gossip.

The differences of opinions and leadership style are present in our organisation. I must remember that the pros of forthrightness, however difficult it is to be, outweigh the cons of silence and the enduring resentment.

The twist of my situation: taking my own advice and applying it in a work place where I also live!