In an ideal world, we all want to establish good working relationships with people we have to deal with, especially those we have to meet on a regular basis.  But that will not always be the case.  In reality, we do get our share of colleagues who make it seem their career to make life just a little bit harder for you.  Unluckily for us, we do get pressures and stress from having to deal with the daily grind of life, and here, on one hand, we have to contend with these annoying colleagues.  So, how should you deal with it?

Stay Above Water

You can stay above office politics by not rising to the bait.  Many realize that these kinds of people already look foolish as it is, and calling other people’s attention to them will only be a waste of time.  Understand your job description and stick to it.  No one can force you to go over and beyond what is expected of you unless you do so of your own accord.  It may be for purposes of self improvement, but if it’s extra work for you that will cause you to lose track of business and other usual stuff, then don’t let them push you around.

Keep a watchful eye and ear around you for trouble that may come or has already occurred.  Be prepared with facts, logical reasoning, and figures, if necessary.  This is one of the reasons why one should keep important documents including emails in your personal file or folder.  You may need to reference these materials as evidences in case something like this comes up.  If you anticipate a possible issue or possible conflict of projects, make sure to procure your supervisor’s approval or let them know about your situation.  There would be times when you need someone to back you up when things get out of hand.

Need a Break

When you find yourself unable to keep your cool any longer, it might be time to get some time away from these people.  This is a viable situation especially when you have tried ignoring them and limiting your interaction with them.  But because the nature of your work requires you to keep in constant communication with them, you may want to rethink your options.  A person can only take so much at some point, and getting out even for a short while may be the exact remedy you need.

Tomorrow it’s Valentine’s Day! Many of you have most probably already bought a gift for their partner. If not, then consider yourselves lucky since this blog post is serving as a reminder.
Valentine’s Day is a great day in which we can all put aside any difficulties that we might be going through in our relationships. Here are three tips that will help you improve your relationship literally overnight and not just for Valentine’s Day.

Listen to what your partner says

When your better half speaks you should listen without interrupting. Listening means thinking about what your partner is saying, not thinking how to reply. Start applying this simple rule and you will see that your relationship will significantly improve. When you interrupt someone it simply means that you don’t care what the other person is saying. This often leads to argumentation since you reply back without understanding what your partner’s concern is. Listening carefully without interrupting is not easy. Do not confuse simple with easy. But trust me, listening carefully and calmly can do wonders to your relationship.

Involve your partner

Start from this Valentine’s Day. When you are in a relationship don’t act like a boss. Talk to your partner before committing yourself with friends, colleagues or relatives. Sharing ideas and talking with your partner means that you care about what your partner thinks. It also shows respect. These are all qualities that strengthen a relationship. 

Stop asking to be understood

Stop expecting your partner to understand you. Start understanding your partner. When you ask your partner to understand you, you are simply asking your partner to change his/her mind and start thinking the same way as you do… in other words compromising. Start compromising yourself and you will see that you partner will follow suit.

This list is not exhaustive but I think these three tips are fundamental if one wants to have a healthy, happy, and loving relationship. Till next time, happy St. Valentine’s Day to all