Hugging It Out With That D@#k From Work!

Is some jerk-off getting you all kinds of Incredible Hulk pissed off at work (which is making your productivity level take a sharp nosedive)?

Well, you’re not alone … the workplace in general crams a bunch of jumbled people together, with a ton of very different personalities (some good, and some insanely horrific) and even though most of your coworkers will be pretty easy to get along with, there will always be that one “person” who you utterly despise … even though you can’t put your finger on why! Now, what sets the workplace apart from other places, like your home life or softball team, is that everyone (even the despicable people) must cooperate in order to get their work finished. It only makes sense then that you must do your part in relationship building to boost your company’s results!

So my man, you’re going to have to fix what’s broken … regardless if you want to or not! Don’t worry, the tougher it sounds to you right now, the bigger the payoff is going to be in the end. Face it … each and every one of us thinks our way is better that the rest (what … my way isn’t? LOL). As a matter of fact, each and every one of us also thinks it should be clearly obvious to everybody else that our way is the only way to go. Now, that wouldn’t cause too much grief if we kept that opinion to ourselves, but we never do do we (admit it)? Actually, more often than not, we try to force our righteousness onto everyone else around us (except you Mother Teresa … you were cool like that).

Hey, being different is just that … different! It doesn’t mean “better” or “worse” … it’s just different. People do things in different ways, go about things differently and approach life differently … because these ways work for them. Sure, this guy may not be doing things the smartest way, but then again maybe you’re not either … you ever think about that? So why not pay a little attention to how this “pain in the a@#” goes about their work ritual first. Then ask them relevant questions. Then explore the “hows” and “whys” of their particular approach and recognize that this way may be what works for them! Then try to understand them, rather than merely criticizing them (this is the key)!

Accept the fact that there are many different ways to do the exact same s@#t. One of the biggest reasons communication break down at work is that employees pretend to be on the same team (with phony smiles and handshakes) while continuing to pursue their own individual agenda anyways. So managers, why not encourage your staff to speak freely and openly, and remind them that the “old way” of handling “yo bizness” (A.K.A. sweeping everything under the rug) doesn’t apply here? Then go ahead and break down the high school office politics and gridlock (then throw up a peace sign, and buy everyone an Obama shirt, and smoke some … ok, you get the hint right? Oh, is it 4:20 already … whew, time sure does “fly”!)!

Now back to the worker bees … next time you’re confronted with a difficult coworker, always tell them exactly what you’re thinking, right then and there (don’t be a coward … just make sure you clear it with HR first). Hiding what you’re really wanting to say in a stressful situation will eventually create an even more stressful situation down the road, because one person will think that the other person “won the battle” … and that’s not what good communication is all about! So, go ahead and bring those problems and issues right out into the open (however, you don’t have to be a d@#k about it)!

Learn about their interests, their home and family lives, and even their deep down problems … maybe this is what’s causing them to lash out at you (it’s probably you though … I’m just saying). Then gain their confidence by showing them that you care and understand (they’ll eat that up). Then, of course, it’s the perfect time to hug that s@#t out (not to be confused with “squashing the beef” … or kicking their ass, for short).

Now, all that talking and hugging should, if done right, set you up for a much calmer work environment from that day forth. Just remember this next time you’re confronted with a situation that you either disapprove of or dislike: it’s the mark of a superior mind that can disagree without being disagreeable (I think Confucius said that, but I’m probably wrong … what do I know?)!

Plus, what if you need another hand for your Friday Night Poker, or you need a battery jump in the parking lot? Go ask your new friend … trust me, he’ll help you out now!