Turn the other cheek, even if it kills your ego. Just this week a colleague of mine complained that a co-worker suddenly came out with a nasty selfish, self-absorbed rant when my colleague asked her for a favor. My colleague was absolutely stunned at this reaction. But instead of expressing her anger, she just walked away, knowing that her co-worker was at the end of her rope on a number of issues. Airing on the side of caution, my colleague chose to take a road of "unconditional understanding."
The volatility of the job market and economic downturn can make for a chaotic inner life and workplace environment. Few are immune to the stressful circumstances that most take to work; like fear of losing a job, concerns about making the mortgage or paying the bills.
So misunderstandings will be commonplace no matter where you work. People are fallible, it's as simple as that. We are human beings at work and often bring our baggage to work.
This is not to say we should be doormats – but choose your battles wisely. We can't bring someone to their senses, but through example. As Albert Einstein once said, "Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be won through understanding. Our longing for understanding is eternal." Truth is our longing for a little bit of calm in the workplace is desperately needed.
