We’ve all been there before. You’re sitting at your desk, minding your own business, when you hear the telltale signs of office drama unfolding. Maybe it’s raised voices coming from the conference room, or maybe it’s a group of people huddled together in hushed tones, shooting furtive glances in your direction.
Whatever the case may be, office drama can be a huge source of stress and can take up valuable time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. If you find yourself caught up in drama at work, it’s important to take steps to remove yourself from the situation.
What is Office Drama?
Office drama is defined as any conflict or tension that arises between employees in the workplace. Drama can range from minor disagreements to full-blown arguments and can involve anything from gossiping and rumor-mongering to backstabbing and passive-aggressive behavior.
Office drama is often fueled by a lack of communication, as well as by different personality types that clash with one another. When left unchecked, office drama can negatively impact morale, productivity, and even company culture.
Why you should remove office drama
There are several reasons why you should remove office drama from your life. Such as,
It can be a huge source of stress. If you’re constantly worried about who’s saying what about you or who’s out to get you, it’s going to be hard to focus on your work.
It can take up a lot of time and energy. If you’re spending hours every day gossiping with coworkers or trying to avoid someone you don’t get along with, that’s time that could be better spent on actually getting your work done.
It can harm company culture. If employees constantly fight or gossip behind each other’s backs, it creates a toxic environment that can be difficult to change.
How to Remove Drama At Work (5 Actionable Steps)
Here are 5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work:
1. Keep communication lines open and honest.
One of the best ways to avoid office drama is to keep communication lines open and honest. If you have a problem with someone, don’t hesitate to speak up and say something. Chances are, the other person is feeling the same way and will be relieved that you had the courage to speak up.
In addition, try to avoid gossiping or speaking behind someone’s back. If you have something negative to say about someone, say it to their face. Gossiping only serves to fuel office drama and can make the situation worse.
2. Avoid gossip and rumors.
Gossip and rumors are often at the root of office drama. If you hear something about someone, don’t repeat it unless you know it to be true. And if you’re the one being gossiped about, don’t let it get to you.
Instead, confront the person spreading the rumors and ask them to stop. Chances are, they’re only doing it because they’re trying to stir up drama, and they’ll back down if you call them out on it.
3. Seek resolution instead of retribution.
If you find yourself in the middle of office drama, it’s important to seek resolution instead of retribution. Trying to get even with someone will only worsen the situation and lead to more drama down the road.
Instead, focus on finding a resolution that everyone can be happy with. This may mean compromising on something or giving in to a point you don’t necessarily agree with. But in the end, it’s better to have a resolution than to continue the cycle of office drama.
4. Don’t take sides.
When office drama erupts, it’s important not to take sides. Getting involved will only make the situation worse and will likely lead to more drama down the road.
Instead, try to stay neutral and focus on finding a resolution that everyone can be happy with. This may mean mediating between the two parties or acting as a peacemaker. But in the end, it’s better to have a resolution than to continue the cycle of office drama.
5. Be the bigger person.
One of the best ways to remove yourself from office drama is to be the bigger person. This may mean swallowing your pride and apologizing, even if you don’t think you did anything wrong. It may also mean forgiving someone who has wronged you, even if they don’t deserve it.
But in the end, being the bigger person will help to diffuse the situation and will likely lead to more respect from your coworkers.
TED Talk: “5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work.”
No matter what industry you work in, you have probably experienced drama at work. In a TED Talk in TED@WellsFargo, community leader and Wells Fargo corporate business initiatives consultant Anastasia Penright outlines five steps to get along better with your coworkers and focus on what is more important.
The 5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work according to her are:
1. Reflect on what you did.
It’s essential to take a step back and reflect on your own actions. What did you do that may have contributed to the situation? By understanding your own role in the drama, you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
2. Come back to reality. (This Needs To Stop)
It’s easy to get caught up in our own heads, but it’s important to remember that the drama is usually much worse in our heads than it actually is. Instead of focusing on the imaginary world we’ve created in our heads, we need to focus on the real world and the actual facts.
3. Vent and release. (We Need to Stop)
It’s essential to have someone to vent to, whether it’s a friend, therapist, or even a trusted coworker. But it’s just as important to remember that the conversation should ultimately be productive. If you find yourself getting stuck in a negative spiral, it’s the job of someone in the conversation to steer it in a positive direction — whether you or your friend.
4. Learn a new language. (We Need to Talk)
To effectively communicate with others, we need to understand their point of view. This is especially important in text-based conversations, where tone can be easily misconstrued. Sometimes it’s better to have a face-to-face or voice-based conversation so that you can better understand the other person’s manner.
5. Recognize and protect. (We Need to Take a Walk)
Some people will never learn, and it’s important to recognize when it’s time to let them be and walk away. There are always great people waiting to work with you, and you don’t need to tolerate toxic and damaging people just for the sake of getting the work done.
Conclusion
Office drama can be a huge source of stress and can take up valuable time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. If you find yourself caught up in drama at work, it’s essential to take steps to remove yourself from the situation.
Some tips for removing yourself from office drama include keeping communication lines open and honest, avoiding gossip and rumors, and seeking resolution instead of retribution.
In addition, it’s important to be the bigger person and to avoid taking sides. By following these tips, you can diffuse the situation and likely feel calmer and more collected at work.
