Gracefully Dealing with 3 Common Issues in the Workplace

By Sam Ast, Re-Entry Workforce Development Specialist, Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas

This blog will address several common issues encountered by employees in the workplace and offer a few suggestions as to the best possible responses. If you’re interested in learning more about what can cause these difficulties, the effect they may have on you at work and how to react professionally, continue reading.

Many of us must deal with behavior and circumstances that are not ideal while on the job. Some of this is inherent to modern work settings, and some of these exploits are part and parcel of basic human interaction. However, there are numerous occurrences that can — in addition to having a detrimental effect on your productivity — be potentially dangerous, as well. In this article, we will explore both types of obstacles.

Navigating Difficult Conflicts at Work

One such problem is conflict with your coworkers or supervisors. Friction among staff can take a variety of forms, ranging from simple disagreements to outright hostility. All employees are entitled to safe working conditions and infringements of this right should not be tolerated. This includes freedom from fear or retaliation as well as the expectation that personal and physical boundaries will not be breached.

It should be obvious that any sort of violence is strictly prohibited in all workspaces, but other sorts of harassment or bullying are unacceptable, too. If you find yourself embroiled in any of this, it is important to first take stock of the severity of the context — not all conditions will warrant outside involvement — though, most likely, alerting someone in management or human resources to help you navigate through the processes of conflict resolution is a safe, smart and acceptable way to proceed.

Lack of Training

Another complication workers may face is a lack of training. This can be a tough obstacle to circumvent, especially if one’s employment is well underway before any potential snags are noticed. Is it too late to ask for help? Who is best positioned to answer your questions? Will you offend your supervisor if you bring up possible shortfalls of the onboarding process? Maybe you worry you’ll look inadequate or incompetent for the role in which you were hired. Regardless of the situation, matters like these deserve prompt attention.

If you’re unsure of how to complete work tasks, there is a high probability that these assignments will remain unfinished. Not fulfilling your responsibilities at work or attending to them poorly will undoubtedly cause problems for both customers and others on your team. If you find yourself in a conundrum like this, try speaking first with other members of your team to see if they have the answers. After this, be sure to follow up with your manager to confirm the information you received from others does, in fact, adhere to best practices. Lack of training and skills can be overcome by communicating effectively and through more professional development or further instruction. Speaking up shows your dedication to fostering positive outcomes, so don’t worry about reputational blows.

Miscommunication at Work

Likewise, anyone who must interact with others is likely to encounter some form of miscommunication. Miscommunication can often lead to misperceptions and misunderstandings. When conversing in the workplace — whether you are the listener or the speaker — focusing on the what and the how can help clear the air of unnecessary distraction or misinterpretation. The what of any dialogue is the content and context. It contains what is being said and what the purpose of saying it is. The how is often where things get tricky. This is best understood as the tone or method of delivery. A shouted order is sure to be received more negatively than a kindly worded email.

However, even if the tone is correct, humans are prone to all modes of reception — from angry first reactions to a complete lack of understanding — each inherently colored by one’s own biases. Without clearly articulated messaging, mistakes are bound to occur, and poor feelings are more likely to overwhelm any attempts at productive discourse.

It is abundantly clear that work environments can be fraught with potential barriers to success and camaraderie among coworkers. That said, there are multiple ways to overcome these hindrances and make certain your office, warehouse, etc., remains safe, productive and harmonious.