How to work well with your office rival

Stopping conversation and not exchanging pleasantries is not the answer

Office spaces may be full of people we may not like, but non-communication is not the answer to tackle those difficult relationships. How should we conduct ourselves in front of people we don’t really like? It often helps to have a dignified-yet-approachable decorum with people you may not share a great relationship with. To quote philosopher Eric Hoffer, “Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength.”

1 Don’t avoid a greeting:

It’s only classy to exchange a polite greeting and pleasantries with people you meet daily at work or at social gatherings. You should never opt for the fashionable yet immature ‘cold shoulder’ behaviour. A wise person with a decent amount of wisdom will always validate even his most hated enemy with a nod and a smile. You are a strong and elegant individual when you conduct yourself with civility at all times.

2 Keep conversation lines open:

Noncommunication is not the answer with rivals at work; it will only sour the relationship even more. Just take a step back from ego and let wisdom enter the relationship. Etiquette is nothing but a fuel for building relationships. Consideration and respect for the other person are most important when dealing with difficult relationships. Be wise, and take a step forward by offering an olive branch simply by beginning a decent non-work-related conversation. We all have many struggles of our own in our personal lives. If professional rivalry can be dealt with a polite conversation, then deal with it. You will just have one less hassle in your life.

3 Adopt grace as the silent code for sophistication:

An elegant individual would never be impolite to anyone. Bad behaviour may come from the most successful person, and success has got nothing to do with manners. I have personally witnessed many successful and extremely wealthy people, who have absolutely no manners and etiquette. Bad, egocentric behaviour is a sign of insecurity, and everyone has that. How you stay calm and deal with it with intelligence and grace would elevate your standard. Stay classy, and be gracious and kind to the people who are rude to you. Your good manners will rub onto them in time. It’s a silent code of conduct through your own manners.

You represent your values and ethics by maintaining a certain decorum below which you do not fall. You are powerful when you are poised with people who rub you the wrong way.

Till next week, #beextraordinary.