Dealing with Drama in the Workplace
Why don’t you ever see top organizations talking about their in-house drama? Perhaps they hire people who don’t have the temperament for drama and therefore they have employees who don’t “do” drama. Or perhaps these organizations are intentionally developing a work culture that is strong and focuses on the vision, mission, and values of the organization.
But what happens when you do have it for whatever reason? Maybe you inherited it. Any way you get it, you can’t ignore it. You must address it, or you will get more of it. If you don’t, you open the door for negative leaders to step up and direct your team away from your leadership.
Dealing with workplace drama is challenging but essential for maintaining a positive and productive environment. Here are 3 tips for addressing your workplace drama when it comes along:
1. Address Issues Early and Directly
- Prevent escalation by addressing problems as soon as they arise. Letting issues linger often makes them worse. Stay firm and focused. Deal with the facts.
- Have direct conversations with the individuals involved, encouraging open and honest communication about the situation. Take good notes during or after each conversation. They will come in handy later.
2. Set Clear Expectations and Boundaries
- Establish clear guidelines for behavior and design workplace policies that discourage gossip, negativity, and unproductive conflict.
- Be firm, fair and focused. Clearly communicate that you value respectful, solution-focused discussions and won’t tolerate divisiveness.
3. Lead by Example
- Demonstrate calm, composed, and respectful behavior even during conflicts. Your example sets the tone for the rest of the team.
- Be fair and consistent in managing disputes, avoiding favoritism or bias.
- In my experience, the best way to deal with drama is to nurture a healthy positive work culture so that drama just can’t grow there. Creating that culture relies on you being consistent and very intentional.
Workplace drama can undermine morale and productivity, but by addressing issues proactively and promoting a positive culture, you can minimize its impact.
Go grow your drama-free culture.
Jeff
