Conflict with a Colleague

12/12/2016

I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.
Emma Thompson, actor

"When a colleague is mean to you, it can be hard to know how to respond," writes Amy Gallo in the Harvard Business Review.

She offers these principles for handling conflict:

Understand why: Know that most people act aggressively at work because they feel threatened. Small gestures such as offering gratitude or complimenting the person on something you genuinely admire can help.
Look at what you're doing: These situations require introspection. Consider whether you might be misinterpreting the behavior or overreacting to it or whether you’ve unknowingly contributed to the problem.
Stand up for yourself: Don't be afraid to call out the bad behavior when it happens or say something as soon as you're able.

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