Dealing with Difficult
Situations at Work
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Introduction
• We know the feeling:
– Our patience is nearly ending,
we are about ready to throw
our fist through a wall or we
are on the verge of tears.
– The steam is pouring out of
our ears.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Our Daily Working Environment
• When we work with the
same people day in and day
out, chances are we will
eventually encounter a
situation that can be very
“explosive”.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Important
• When we find ourselves in a
volatile situation fueled by
anger, frustration, or any other
highly unstable emotion we
need to be very careful about
our attitudes since they can
damage our career and our
professional networking.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Strategy 01 – Inject Humor
• We should be able to lighten the
mood by using a little humor to
show we are not taking it too
seriously.
• We need to reduce the level of
stress, allowing everybody to think
about the whole situation.
• Be careful since we don’t want to
give the impression that the other
person’s feelings are not important.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Strategy 02 – Invite a third party to mediate
• Involving a respected third
party can help both sides feel
that they are being heard
• If the person is truly neutral,
and respected by both of us,
the decision should be
considered fair, balanced and
acceptable by all.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Strategy 03 – Shift Perspective
• We should change our perspective
about the situation and consider
many different points-of-view.
• Maybe the whole situation is not
about us or what is going on.
• If our co-worker is going through a
messy divorce, we might have a
little more patience when he doesn’t
behave well.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Strategy 04 - Compromise
• Being stubborn typically doesn’t
get us very far.
• We should avoid the “I am
completely right” since we can
overlook the possibility of
creating an equitable solution.
• Compromise is a necessity for any
relationship, professional or
personal and remember together,
we can then create a solution.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Strategy 05 - Surrender
• All too often we get consumed
with the idea of being right.
• Even if we are right, it may be
appropriate to concede and
simply wave the white flag.
• Non-stop arguments can
potentially damage our long term
relationship with any person,
causing irreparable harm to our
ability to work together.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
07 Important Tips
• Establish facts first.
• Ask lots of questions.
• Actively listen.
• Avoid pre-judgement.
• Act professionally.
• Aim for win-win.
• Remember there is no one size
fits all approach.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 01 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem Strategy
A co-worker has the • Make sure that you aren’t
annoying habit of guilty of something as
doing something that annoying yourself.
you can’t stand • See what you can do to block
anymore. out the habit that annoys you.
• Invest in headphones, and try
Main Aspects to focus on something else.
Obsessively clicking pens. • If you really can’t put up with,
Playing music too loudly. then politely ask your co-
Chewing gum like a cow worker to refrain. Tell them
munching on grass. that you get easily distracted.
• Above all, be nice about it.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 02 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem
Strategy
You suspect someone
in the • You need to be aware that
office is working most people are not out to get
against you. you. Recognize that, and half
the problem is gone.
• Dealing with a competitive
Main Aspects worker can be accomplished
Your paranoia gets the by simply doing your work
better of you. the best you can.
You’re put in defensive • And remember the only one
mode, and you begin who you are really competing
actively working against the against is yourself.
possible offender.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 03 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem
A co-worker tries to Strategy
engage you in a • Just don’t talk about religion
heated religious or or politics.
political conversation. • If someone asks for your
opinion, try to steer the
Main Aspects conversation elsewhere, or
laugh it off and say something
Politics and religion are
neutral.
almost always a big no-no • If you feel it is necessary,
in the workplace.
leave the place out.
Controversial conversations
can quickly turn into
animosity.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 04 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem Strategy
A co-worker or • Be fast to deal with this
superior makes an situation.
inappropriate physical • Do not ignore sexual advances
advance and assume that they will go
away.
• Tell the perpetrator (in
Main Aspects
private) that you aren’t
Broken office romance. interested and uncomfortable,
An unwanted pass can and that you want his or her
spawn gossip, discomfort, behavior to stop.
or even professional and • Make sure he or she knows
personal danger. that you will file an official
complaint.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 05 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem
A co-worker incites Strategy
you to participate • Stay away from notorious
in a nasty office gossips.
gossip • When someone tries to share
office gossip with you, try
Main Aspects changing the conversation, or
Participating in gossip may simply tell them that you
be tempting, but it’s almost don’t like talking about others
always ill-advised. because you don’t like it when
When you participate in people talk about you.
gossip, you run the risk of
offending coworkers.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 06 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem Strategy
Someone is stealing • Put your food in some sort of
your food from the container, and make sure to
refrigerator. label it with your name.
• If it keeps happening, ask, in a
Main Aspects non-accusatory manner, if
anyone has seen your food
The stealing becomes
items.
habitual.
• If all else fails, you can
You decide to let it slide.
always purchase a small
You go hungry and
personal fridge and keep it
resentment builds.
under your desk.
Confrontation ensues.
Dealing with Difficult Situations at Work
Situation 07 - Problems and Strategies
Main Problem Strategy
Your boss overloads • You just have to learn the best
you with tasks that way to say no to your boss.
aren’t in your work • Meet with the boss to review
description your work description.
• If it becomes an ongoing
Main Aspects problem, go to HR.
At first it starts out with • We would also suggest a
little things, like “Do you transfer to another department
mind doing this?” or looking for a new job
Eventually, you become because some bosses just
your boss’ slave. won’t change.
