How to confront someone at work.

When someone showcases inappropriate behaviour, especially in a workplace setting, it can create a negative work atmosphere in which other co-workers feel uninterested to do their work and even customers don’t want to deal with that particular business. Whether the need for the confrontation arises in a work or personal setting, here are handy tips on how you should go about confronting that certain someone:

Use your personal power

This is simply the influence that you have on your peers. While we all have positional power, personal power is something we develop through rapport. If you are to confront someone, it can make the process a lot easier if you have a good working relationship and mutual understanding with that person.

What to confront

If you are confronted by someone, you will probably take it personally. So when you are confronting, don’t point your finger at the individual, but rather talk about how the way they are behaving needs to change. Remember the saying: “It’s not what you’re saying, but how you’re saying it.”

Be objective

Don’t let your emotions get in the way — stay both morally and emotionally objective.

Stay focused on the issue at hand

Always remain focused on the initial issue, and confront tihe person’s behaviour.

Consistency

Try to be consistent in your approach and in what you do and say.

Laugh it up

It can be a very good idea to employ humour.

This shows you are human and that you can make light of the situation.

It’s also a good way of cutting through the emotional tension.

Be pre-emptive

Always attempt to resolve problems before they actually occur or deal with it early on to prevent any escalations.