Avoiding Conflicts with Co-Workers

NO, I am not currently in conflict with anyone at work and I hope it will be like that for the rest of my stay here.

I’d just like to write now about how I was able to avoid conflicts with my co-teachers in my first year of teaching. Here are the five thoughts I always keep in my mind:

1. Know where you stand. I have to always keep in mind that I am a newly hired member of the faculty, which means, I should not assume that I know the subculture within the group. I should listen to my superiors and be always willing to learn. Later on, I could start making a difference once I am able to establish my identity.

2. Be generous with praise, stingy with criticism. Essentially, I am not in the position to make criticisms. I always keep in mind that if I have nothing good to say, I’d better keep my mouth shut.

3. Do assigned tasks promtly. Whenever I’m requested to do tasks aside from teaching, I always make it a point that I deliver them promptly. That way, I earn their trust.

4. Don’t be too helpful. Just be natural. Don’t meddle with other teachers’ activities. Never give unsolicited ideas, egos might be hurt.

5. Don’t be a gossip monger. It is a natural tendency for workers to talk about people. In the faculty room, it is often the principal that takes the central role in the exchange of stories. Avoid adding comments on stories being told. Never start a topic about co-workers’ behaviors, appearance, or anything about them.