When a team of employees gets along well and has a positive relationship, it just makes everything easier. The workers communicate, collaborate, and easily deal with problems that come their way. They’re also more likely to stay with the business because good people can make even the most difficult days more bearable. But problems occur when they don’t get along, or drama arises. Using performance management software to track and manage incidents in the office will be necessary should difficult employees continue to create drama and termination become necessary, according to https://www.paycom.com/our-solution/performance-management/. There are also many benefits of using this type of software.
If you don’t deal with office drama in the right way, working relationships fall apart, collaboration stops and it negatively affects the business – not to mention if the drama is so severe that somebody feels forced to leave.
Here’s some advice for dealing with office drama!
Be Aware
Whether the drama is related to work or personal lives, you need to be aware of everything that’s going on. As we all know, prevention is better than having to find a cure, so keep an eye on what’s happening, spend time with employees and try to understand how everybody feels. If a situation arises, step in as soon as possible to ensure the problem doesn’t intensify.
Define Roles
Drama often comes when there isn’t a clear definition of roles. When two people have different roles, both might think they have the upper hand, which leads to confusion. To limit confusion and insubordination, ensure each role has a job description and that the chain of command is clearly identified. Be motivational and communicate clearly to avoid confusion among your team.
Keep Gossip To a Minimum
As a manager, supervisor, owner or any upper management leader, one thing to be cautious of is office gossip. Whether about personal matters, potential cutbacks or promotions, you need to navigate this with caution. While there may be a time and a place for it, there are some topics you should avoid. You should also provide clear communication on all matters so staff doesn’t have an opportunity to gossip negatively and cause tension. If you notice certain individuals spreading rumors or causing trouble, step in quickly.
Outsource HR
As a small business, it can be hard to deal with staff matters because you don’t have the time or you may not have the expertise. With this in mind, why not outsource HR to a company with experience in this very field? They spend every single day as the HR department for smaller companies. Before you even know there’s a problem, the HR service will be working on a resolution while you focus on other tasks.
Give Responsibility
Even in workplaces where gossip runs rampant, you need to know when to step in and when to allow your workers to resolve problems themselves. If you always step in and act like a parent, they will always be looking for you when something goes wrong. It’s sometimes better to allow employees to find resolutions themselves. In the long run, they become closer and the business benefits.
Instill a Positive Atmosphere
One of the best ways to deal with office drama is to ensure it doesn’t happen in the first place. As we said earlier, prevention is always better than the cure, so lead with positivity from the very top. If you get along with other managers and upper management is working together, those lower down the chain will see this and act in the same way. Leading by example is key; you can’t have drama with other managers and get frustrated when friction arises between two of your employees. All work together, move in the same direction and grow as one!