Never Let Your Professional Frustrations Erupt into Aggressive Behavior: A Lesson Learned

Have you ever gone off on a co-worker or supervisor while at work? What happened can often teach us valuable lessons about workplace relations and professional conduct.

A Temporary Solution to Unemployment

I was once in a situation where a retiring boss created an end to a wonderful job, but also inadvertently set me up for a period of unemployment. My boss helped me land an interview for a receptionist, administrative assistant, and office manager role within a newly spun-off department. The position required a range of skills, yet the job turned out to be rather dull. Over time, I found myself complaining about the nature of the work, which led to much internal turmoil. I blamed the job for being so bland that even a monkey could do it. But it's important to note that such casual remarks can lead to serious consequences in the workplace.

The Co-worker with Animosity

The person I replaced harbored animosity towards me, which I attribute to several factors: the ease of my role, my lack of seriousness towards it, and my friendship with two Vice Presidents (VPs). Our reporting structures were vastly different, adding to the tension. She went out of her way to criticize everything from my meeting notes to my attire. The office dress code was business casual, but she was the one always showing up in jeans, which made me even more puzzled about her complaints. Her supervisor repeatedly informed her that it was not her job to interfere, yet she continued with her micro-management. I resolved some of the issues by moving my files to the company network and addressing the cake sizes for birthday celebrations. However, her continued pilfering of supplies for her children also became a problem. Thankfully, I resolved this by locking the supply closet.

The Inciting Incident

One fateful day after a birthday party, I was cleaning up, and she entered the kitchen to complain about the fruit-filled cake. Her relentless complaints finally pushed me to a breaking point. I had enough. I instructed her to leave immediately but she did not stop. I, in a moment of intense frustration, used a book of matches to light and throw matches at her as a form of self-protection. Fortunately, the matches went out mid-air, and I cleaned up the remnants. My actions were reported to the company president, who humorously advised me to avoid such behavior in the future. This was a long time ago, and I've since learned to manage my anger and respect others' boundaries more.

The Lessons Learned

Despite the humorous closure, this incident taught a valuable lesson about maintaining professional conduct in the workplace. We must always guard against reacting with aggression or employing such measures to navigate workplace conflicts. Instead, it's essential to address and resolve issues through open communication, self-reflection, and understanding. By doing so, we can maintain a positive work environment and contribute to a culture of respect and collaboration.

Conclusion

Remember, no matter how frustrating the workplace can be, voicing your concerns constructively and maintaining a professional demeanor are far more productive strategies than lashing out out of anger. Let this story be a reminder to handle workplace conflicts with professionalism and grace.

Keywords:workplace conflict, professional conduct, office politics