How to Handle Melodrama in Your Workplace

In the workplace, melodrama happens when a minor concern or conflict is embroidered and overstated in such a way that it becomes larger-than-life and blown way out of proportion to the original issue. Many people often complain about the level of melodrama on the job and in their offices.

Melodrama and incessant whining about things outside the average worker’s ability to influence or change leads to exaggeration, which in turn leads to lying. If a person exaggerates or lies too much, no one will believe it even when the truth is spoken. This article introduces six steps for handling office melodrama.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Melodrama

   Identify the drama kings or queens in your office. According to many office quotes these people collect followers with similar proclivities but end up aggravating or alienating the very people they desire to impress. They're easy to spot. Just look for the people who make everything a big deal and elevate minor situations to crisis proportions.

2. 
   An Office Quote:

   Decide against becoming a drama king or queen yourself or a member of the royal court. There are always two sides to every story. Wisdom would suggest that you not pre-judge or second-guess; instead, look and listen to all sides before giving into the crisis, stress and panic.

3. 
   Rumor Mill

   Object to melodramatic activity that slanders or is hurtful to another co-worker. Refrain from participating in gossip and rumor-mongering.

4. 
   Drama King

   Be sensitive to ways you may be able to help the drama king or queen put a filter on emotions and reduce the impact on other co-workers.

5. 
   Drama Queen

   When faced with conflict, disagreements or challenges balance your reactions and emotions instead of behaving, speaking or acting in a way that is more dramatic, shocking, or highly emotional than the situation demands.

6. 
   Dramatic Tale

   Calmly Listen to and watch the dramatic tale unfold instead of feeding the fire by over-reacting. Remind yourself to take it all with a grain of salt, since drama kings and queens like to play to an audience.

Tips & Warnings

• Melodrama is not always a bad thing. Sharing funny stories or entertaining co-workers with the antics of children or pets can relieve stress and promote stronger interpersonal relationships; However, it is best to steer clear of office melodrama and workplace drama kings and queens who tend to increase your stress level.
• Use the resources below to manage office melodrama.

Resources

• 31 Ways to Make Your Work Relationships Succeed
• Fight the Melodrama in Your Office
• Answers to Your Questions about Job & Career