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Client Resources, Finding a New Job, Professional Growth

3 Ways to Deal With Conflict With Another Employee

We all have that person at work who always seems to get the blood boiling; unfortunately, it’s a situation you must deal with as a professional.

In the book Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job, psychologists reported that approximately 80 percent of the people the authors surveyed described moderate to considerable stress as a consequence of working with a demanding co-worker, boss or assistant.

If you’re not one of the ‘lucky 20 percent,’ there are a few methods you can use to effectively cope with someone you find difficult to work with every day.

Consider your own disposition

Sometimes we find someone very annoying, while others simply aren’t bothered by that same person. This might be because something about the person particularly annoys you. Maybe they remind you of a bully from junior high school. Or perhaps they leave their workspace messy and you’re a bit of a neat freak.

If you come to realize the reason you’re so annoyed by someone is partly because of your own disposition, it makes dealing with that person a little bit easier. Instead of erupting at the person or the behavior, you can pause for a moment, consider how much of the situation “is you,” and determine an appropriate response.

If, after some consideration, you feel like you have a valid complaint about someone’s actions or habits, let that person know how you feel and calmly discuss a resolution.

Don’t make assumptions

When you’re tired, or in a bad mood, it can be easy to fall into the trap of making snap judgments about a situation and assume the worst about somebody. These assumptions can lead to unnecessary confrontations, or even worse, wrongly accusing someone without having all the facts.

Instead of jumping into a combative mode, ask the person about a situation that is making you upset. Getting into the habit of knowing all the facts can help you avoid misunderstandings that will only fuel your dislike of someone.

Make reasonable expectations

Let’s face it; you’re not going to like everyone, and some people you just have to get along with in order to further your own position within the company and your career.

Once you’ve shed the unrealistic idea you can like everyone, you can begin to set reasonable expectations for people who aren’t your favorite individuals to work with.  People will say things you don’t want to hear or do things you don’t want them to do. You can’t control them, but you can control how to respond to them. Don’t set yourself up for frustration and disappointment.

At ZDA, we regularly assist both our workers and client companies with situations involving personality conflicts as a part of the comprehensive services we provide. If you are currently looking to partner with an organization that provides this level of support, please contact us today to work with a leader in supply chain recruiting.

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