February 5, 2009

Making Work "Work": Resources for Busy Professionals

Walk a mile in their shoes

Is there someone in your office who just naturally seems to irritate you? Do you sometimes say, “I can’t stand Joe. He’s so arrogant!” If so, you’re probably no different from the majority of workers in the world. What can be dangerous about this, though, is that such feelings can lead to destructive and unproductive behavior – especially when your assessment of the “Joes” in your life has no factual basis.

One of the best ways to befriend an “enemy” is to look at the world from his or her perspective. You may discover that there’s a reasonable explanation for the behavior that drives you crazy. Once you understand where the other person is coming from, it’s easier to find common ground.