By Devashish Chakravarty
You need to be doubly careful when it comes to handling workplace ties, since both the relationship with colleagues and your career is at stake. Here is how you can negotiate difficult office relationships that could otherwise prevent you from getting a good day's work done.
Your ex-boss is now your junior You are taken aback because your boss at your previous job—who you like and respect— has joined your current firm and is reporting to you. Make sure your priority lies in delivering a positive outcome for your employer. Recognise that your ex-boss has more experience than you in the industry, and he is likely to be comfortable in such a situation. If you are not comfortable, have your ex-boss assigned to a different team. However, if you want to work on the situation, discuss with your ex-boss the challenge of having to work with him in a new equation. Make sure you continue to respect him within your personal space and let your employer be aware of the common past. If you are the one reporting to somebody who worked under you before, display the maturity of a seasoned professional and help him succeed at his job.
Your best friend is incompetent While you have been promoted, your close friend has been ignored. You have also been tasked to counsel him to improve his performance or be fired. Head out with your friend during office hours to a neutral location like a coffee shop. Share that you have an official agenda and that you care enough for the relationship to speak to him as a friend first. Help him work through what's holding him back. Together, figure out the best options for him inside and outside the firm. Finally, close the conversation by sharing that the only official component of the conversation was about improving performance. If you are the under-performer, acknowledge your friend for the difficult task he has and leverage his knowledge to figure out your future.
Your spouse, working in the same organisation, has been promoted You find yourself harbouring mixed feelings of pride and jealousy. Spend some time alone to decide whether you can treat it like a situation where a co-worker has been promoted and you haven't. Recognise that your top priority is the personal equation that you share at home and not the workplace dynamic. If you find that the social and personal impact of the event is too challenging, consider switching to another firm. If you believe you can handle your emotions and the occasional snide remarks from colleagues, stick on and walk with your head held high. In either case, discuss your feelings and thoughts with your spouse and listen carefully to what your spouse is dealing with. If you are the one who has been promoted, be sensitive to what your partner may be going through, suspend your judgment and invest in protecting your personal space.
Your boss is bad for your career If your boss is a poor performer and your team is unable to achieve its goals then your career gets stalled too. Choose to separate your emotions from what is good for your career and move on to a more successful boss. You can always continue to maintain a great personal rapport with your ex-boss. If your capability has been recognised by your boss's superior, you can choose to stay back, but know that your boss will soon be fired and you will be asked to replace him. If you are the boss in this scenario, recognise the signs when high-performing and well-liked subordinates leave your team, and work to improve the situation.
You report to multiple bosses who hate each other You are in a bind because each boss tries to get you to gossip about the other or hogs your time in a way that prevents you from fulfilling your other commitments. Congratulations! You are getting a first-hand experience of handling multiple conflicting stakeholders and this experience will hold you in good stead for the future. As for now, politely decline to be party to any negative conversations. In due course, your bosses will respect you for your integrity and for not talking behind their backs. Gradually learn to say 'No' to work that does not belong to you, so that you have time to do the work you were hired to do. If you are the manager carrying on a running battle with your peers, remember, in a situation like this, no one really wins.
WHEN EMOTIONS ARE AT WORK
YOU WANT TO VENT If you wish to vent out to an office colleague, make sure you know him right from school days and you two switch jobs together— every time. Else, whatever you say will ultimately leak into the public domain.
YOU WANT TO COMPLAIN Get your facts right and recorded on email or in front of a reliable witnesses. Rehearse with a friend for a reality check. If it is an unverifiable event or a perception, be prepared to switch jobs when your complaint boomerangs.
YOU WANT TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN If you are fine with colleagues sniggering at you all year round, go ahead and have a blast. But, an office party is not the right place to get drunk. It will affect your standing among peers and superiors.
YOU WANT TO PICK A FIGHT A colleague has gone a bit too far and you are spoiling for a fight. However, if you think you are going to be beaten in the battle, it is best to avoid it. Else, you will feel like a kid at school who has just been bullied into submission.
YOU WANT TO SAY SORRY Say it in person if it involves relationships with and emotions of other colleagues. Do it outside the office so the other person can give vent to his feelings. Avoid emails and office spaces as the apology could turn into a public event.
(The writer is Director, Executive Search, QuezX.com)
You need to be doubly careful when it comes to handling workplace ties, since both the relationship with colleagues and your career is at stake. Here is how you can negotiate difficult office relationships that could otherwise prevent you from getting a good day's work done.
Your ex-boss is now your junior You are taken aback because your boss at your previous job—who you like and respect— has joined your current firm and is reporting to you. Make sure your priority lies in delivering a positive outcome for your employer. Recognise that your ex-boss has more experience than you in the industry, and he is likely to be comfortable in such a situation. If you are not comfortable, have your ex-boss assigned to a different team. However, if you want to work on the situation, discuss with your ex-boss the challenge of having to work with him in a new equation. Make sure you continue to respect him within your personal space and let your employer be aware of the common past. If you are the one reporting to somebody who worked under you before, display the maturity of a seasoned professional and help him succeed at his job.
Your best friend is incompetent While you have been promoted, your close friend has been ignored. You have also been tasked to counsel him to improve his performance or be fired. Head out with your friend during office hours to a neutral location like a coffee shop. Share that you have an official agenda and that you care enough for the relationship to speak to him as a friend first. Help him work through what's holding him back. Together, figure out the best options for him inside and outside the firm. Finally, close the conversation by sharing that the only official component of the conversation was about improving performance. If you are the under-performer, acknowledge your friend for the difficult task he has and leverage his knowledge to figure out your future.
Your spouse, working in the same organisation, has been promoted You find yourself harbouring mixed feelings of pride and jealousy. Spend some time alone to decide whether you can treat it like a situation where a co-worker has been promoted and you haven't. Recognise that your top priority is the personal equation that you share at home and not the workplace dynamic. If you find that the social and personal impact of the event is too challenging, consider switching to another firm. If you believe you can handle your emotions and the occasional snide remarks from colleagues, stick on and walk with your head held high. In either case, discuss your feelings and thoughts with your spouse and listen carefully to what your spouse is dealing with. If you are the one who has been promoted, be sensitive to what your partner may be going through, suspend your judgment and invest in protecting your personal space.
Your boss is bad for your career If your boss is a poor performer and your team is unable to achieve its goals then your career gets stalled too. Choose to separate your emotions from what is good for your career and move on to a more successful boss. You can always continue to maintain a great personal rapport with your ex-boss. If your capability has been recognised by your boss's superior, you can choose to stay back, but know that your boss will soon be fired and you will be asked to replace him. If you are the boss in this scenario, recognise the signs when high-performing and well-liked subordinates leave your team, and work to improve the situation.
You report to multiple bosses who hate each other You are in a bind because each boss tries to get you to gossip about the other or hogs your time in a way that prevents you from fulfilling your other commitments. Congratulations! You are getting a first-hand experience of handling multiple conflicting stakeholders and this experience will hold you in good stead for the future. As for now, politely decline to be party to any negative conversations. In due course, your bosses will respect you for your integrity and for not talking behind their backs. Gradually learn to say 'No' to work that does not belong to you, so that you have time to do the work you were hired to do. If you are the manager carrying on a running battle with your peers, remember, in a situation like this, no one really wins.
WHEN EMOTIONS ARE AT WORK
YOU WANT TO VENT If you wish to vent out to an office colleague, make sure you know him right from school days and you two switch jobs together— every time. Else, whatever you say will ultimately leak into the public domain.
YOU WANT TO COMPLAIN Get your facts right and recorded on email or in front of a reliable witnesses. Rehearse with a friend for a reality check. If it is an unverifiable event or a perception, be prepared to switch jobs when your complaint boomerangs.
YOU WANT TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN If you are fine with colleagues sniggering at you all year round, go ahead and have a blast. But, an office party is not the right place to get drunk. It will affect your standing among peers and superiors.
YOU WANT TO PICK A FIGHT A colleague has gone a bit too far and you are spoiling for a fight. However, if you think you are going to be beaten in the battle, it is best to avoid it. Else, you will feel like a kid at school who has just been bullied into submission.
YOU WANT TO SAY SORRY Say it in person if it involves relationships with and emotions of other colleagues. Do it outside the office so the other person can give vent to his feelings. Avoid emails and office spaces as the apology could turn into a public event.
(The writer is Director, Executive Search, QuezX.com)
Source:-The Economic Times
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