How to Stay Neutral In Office Disputes

You work well with Sally and Bob, but they are wrapped up in some kind of dispute with each other. That puts you in the middle of a volatile situation that affects your job and mental well-being. The best course is neutrality, but achieving that requires careful thought and measured actions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A strong survival instinct
• The ability to set and maintain boundaries

1. Continue to work with each person as normally as possible. There's two of them and one of you, so seeking to avoid them would cut you off from valuable resources you need to achieve your work goals.
2. As the situation develops, Sally and Bob will probably complain about the other. Respond only with sympathy and questions. Listen carefully as you'll gain greater insights into both personalities.
3. Take care of yourself. Step in if the ill feelings burst into public view, like a shouting match in the middle of the room. Tell them they are disturbing others and to "take it outside" if they need a showdown. You don't have to tolerate such behavior, and they will see you as neutral because you spoke to them both.
4. If Sally and Bob continue to get at each other, go to the boss for help. The bottom line is simple: people don't have to like each other, but they do need to work together effectively. Yes, this is an extreme step, but there's no reason for you to suffer.

Tips & Warnings

• While you can't ignore them as co-workers, limit the time you devote to their problems. You have your job to do, and you are trying to avoid getting caught up in the mess.
• Even if you think one person is in the right, the real problem is the dispute and its effect on you and others in the workplace.

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