Avoiding+Potential+Conflicts



=Human Relations in the Workplace =

Avoiding Potential Conflict
Conflict in the workplace is one of the least desirable consequences of a person's actions, but conflicts will happen. Conflicts can arise from anything from differing opinions, to jealousy, to something as simple as annoying someone enough to cause a problem. In some instances, say winning the bid for a project, there is not much you can do to prevent the loser from feeling jealous or causing you problems. You can, however, try to avoid the most common and personal of conflicts involving everyday inter coworker communication.

Do not tell jokes that might offend someone within the workplace
One of the most common causes of sexual harassment and racial tension within the office is the common set of jokes the "guys" say when taking a break. When it is just the "guys" a female joke or racial joke may seem commonplace. It is common sense to say that such jokes should not be told to someone who might be offended, but sometimes the offended people hear through an alternative means such as eavesdropping or hearing from a secondary source about the joke.

Try to stop performing actions a coworker that works around you considers a "pet peeve"
The office is essentially a building with large rooms of cubicles and offices. Hundreds of people congregate to the building and go about their work for 8-10 hours a day. Only a few people enjoy work, and the rest see it as a means to an end. In other words, most of your coworkers are forced by means of necessity to work in a small cubicle and do work with the small enjoyment of lunch and breaks. The workplace is a stressful environment. When people are forced to work, their ability to be patient and cool lowers. Workers usually find a small action to disrupt their thought process (tapping a pen, smacking gum, conversing too much, and even the occasional chewing of ice), while others get annoyed by those actions.

When the two collide, the resulting argument is as immature as two children fighting over a toy. Several instances of these conflicts and confrontations lead to degrading relationships amongst coworkers. It is important to know your coworkers' "pet peeves", and it is even more important to try to stop yourself from doing them. Less conflict leads to a more peaceful and enjoyable workplace.

Other common "no-no"s
Avoid making offensive comments, wearing offensive clothing, having anything with a sexual reference on it, and any general "the guys" humor-related actions. See example clips 2 and 3.

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 * Example Clip 2** (Warning: Suggestive adult themes)

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 * Example Clip 3** (Warning: Suggestive adult themes, partial nudity, mild adult language)

The examples in these clips were a bit exaggerated (for the sake of comedy) of what might happen in a regular office situation. The three guys in the seminar training are the perfect definition of "the guys". In a real-life scenario, their blunt actions could easily have them fired. Offending someone with sexual harassment or anything else does not require much effort. To you, you might find it silly for someone to get offended by your comments or actions, but the office workplace is designed and meant to be a safe and productive environment.

Avoid potential conflict when you can. It will make the work day more pleasant for everyone.

Related external articles
[|Business Laws: Humor in the Workplace is Restricted by Law] - This article describes the difficulty of having an admirable trait such as a good sense of humor while retaining a legal environment.

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