Navigating Work Place Relationships

Navigating Workplace Relationships

Discover how Kevin teaches valuable lessons on workplace relationships and personal development. Learn to navigate interactions and improve your professional growth with his goofball-proof mindset strategies. Book a session today!

Let's face it, for many, between different personalities, self-serving agendas, (some hidden), passive-aggressive games, and those "clicks" the workplace can be a veritable minefield of both seen and unseen perils.

You can find a lot of "textbook tips" on how to make working with others as smooth as possible and it's always a good idea to know and do the things that keep problems at bay in the first place. See 'Text Book Tips' below.

Unfortunately, in many cases, those "textbook tips" are all but useless in many real-world workplaces where not everyone wants to play fair, and some have other issues that may or may not be "excuse worthy".

All too often you find yourself dealing with things you shouldn't have to deal with and leaving work sad, mad, or both, and not because of the job itself but because of some of those people you have to deal with. By the way, HR is often more the problem rather than the solution.

If you can relate to much of the above, then you'll likely benefit from this ConvoActive service and talking with Kevin. See 'Book A Session(s)' below on this page.

Host Kevin is compassionate, kind, and light-hearted, and he's personally experienced many "workplace wrongs".

Kevin is 60 years old as of 2024, and he started in the workforce when he was 15 working as a "gofer"/assistant in the home remodeling field for a great boss.

When he was 17 he took a weekend community college course about navigating workplace relationships. That's right, navigating workplace relationships.

There were about 25 people in this weekend course/class, and Kevin was the only one there who had not worked in an actual workplace Kevin, who was essentially a "workplace virgin" was dumbstruck by all he was hearing. He said it was both shocking and exciting as participants raced to tell one "workplace wrong" story after another.

Shortly after this workshop Kevin found himself in a workplace and experiencing many of the negative things that he had heard in that workshop.

By the time he was 21, though he enjoyed the work he was doing he was frustrated and depressed from having to deal with, frankly, nutty people seeming to out nutty each other. He found himself hating to go to work and he even started drinking after work...alone.

At about this same time, a co-worker approached Kevin in the break room and asked if he had ever listened to "talk radio". Long story short, Kevin began listening to a radio talk show that was all about teaching your mind to protect your well-being from people who might be fine to have a brief interaction with but leave a lot to be desired as co-workers.

What Kevin learned by listening to this show turned his life around and while it didn't stop people from being "problem people" it gave Kevin the mental tools to rise above and put things into proper perspective.

That program taught Kevin how to navigate personalities which helped him beyond the workplace. This isn't to say that Kevin has never been negatively affected by unpleasant interactions since he was an avid listener of that show, back in the late 1980s, but it is the case that much of what once would have made him angry or sad simply became amusing.

Now Kevin teaches what he learned those many years ago along with other beneficial things he's picked up along the way.

The bottom line is it's so much easier to learn how to change how you react to people than to change people. And few things can have a more positive impact on your life than goofball-proofing your mindset. No unkindness intended.

If you'd like to book a ConvoActive 'Navigate Workplace Relationships' session hosted by Kevin just book a session.

Book A Session(s).

Session Fee: $15 for 15 minutes. $25 for 30 minutes. $35 for 45 minutes. Note: Recording will not be permitted with these sessions.

Note: We use Paypal as a payment gateway but you can use any commonly accepted credit or debit card to pay.

Note: As with most ConvoActive sessions it is recommended that participants review the ConvoActive 'Mindset Matters' guide here on this website. Understanding and practicing the "fundamentals" listed can mentally "orient" your mind to get the most out of ConvoActive sessions as well as life in general.

Text Book Tips

Conventional Navigating Workplace Relationships Tips That Work Well If You're Working with Reasonably, Mentally Healthy People.

Navigating workplace relationships can be like dancing through a minefield—sometimes graceful, sometimes explosive. But fear not! Here are some practical tips and tools to help you avoid and resolve workplace relationship problems:

1. **Communicate Openly and Actively:

   • Imagine communication as a bridge connecting two islands. Be the diligent bridge keeper! Listen actively, express your thoughts clearly, and seek to understand your colleagues. When conflicts arise, address them promptly rather than letting them fester like unattended emails.

2. Set Clear Expectations:

   • Think of expectations as GPS coordinates. When everyone knows where they’re headed, collisions decrease. Clarify roles, responsibilities, and project timelines. Discuss boundaries and work styles upfront.

3. Practice Empathy:

   • Empathy is like a universal translator. Put yourself in your colleagues’ shoes. Understand their perspectives, challenges, and emotions. When you empathize, conflicts soften like butter on warm toast.

4. Choose the Right Conflict Resolution Strategy:

   • The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model offers five strategies:

     • Avoiding: Use sparingly (like that emergency chocolate stash). Sometimes it’s best to step back and let things cool down.

     • Competing: Rarely suited for workplace conflicts, but occasionally necessary (like when deadlines loom).

     • Accommodating: Sometimes you yield gracefully (like when your coworker insists on pineapple pizza during team lunches).

     • Compromising: Meet halfway (like sharing the last donut).

     • Collaborating: The superhero strategy! Work together to find win-win solutions.

5. Practice Active Listening:

   • Imagine listening as a treasure hunt. Seek hidden gems in your colleagues’ words. Show genuine interest, maintain eye contact, and avoid interrupting. Active listening builds bridges, not walls.

6. Use “I” Statements:

   • Instead of pointing fingers like an overzealous traffic cop, say, “I feel…” or “I think…” This shifts blame to shared responsibility. For example, “I feel concerned when deadlines are missed.”

7. Seek Mediation or Facilitation:

   • Mediators are like relationship therapists. When conflicts escalate, consider involving a neutral third party. They’ll help you find common ground and restore harmony.

8. Learn Conflict Management Techniques:

   • The eight-step process below can guide you:

     1. Acknowledge the Conflict: Don’t sweep it under the office rug.

     2. Understand Perspectives: Listen to all sides.

     3. Identify Common Goals: Find shared objectives.

     4. Brainstorm Solutions: Like a team huddle, but with fewer helmets.

     5. Evaluate Options: Choose the best play.

     6. Agree on a Solution: High-five (metaphorically).

     7. Implement and Monitor: Execute the game plan.

     8. Learn from the Experience: Reflect and adjust

9. Practice Emotional Intelligence:

   • EQ is your emotional GPS. Manage your own emotions and recognize others’. When tensions rise, take a deep breath and channel your inner Buddha.

10. Remember the Bigger Picture:

    • Work relationships are like puzzle pieces. Each contributes to the larger picture. Focus on shared goals and organizational success. Petty squabbles fade when you see the masterpiece forming.

    • And hey, if all else fails, bring in a therapy plant. They’re great listeners! 🌿

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