There’s nothing like a peaceful environment at work. Take it over the top by adding some fun and laughter with an excellent work ethic. When you and your co-workers are not just getting alone, but enjoying a family-like relationship, you know your job is something special. Learn these 10 Ways to be a Peace Maker at Work and make your work environment like a day with the family.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
It may sound like a dream, but it is possible to have a peaceful, efficient, and productive work environment. Once you realize that conflict is not your enemy, but a natural part of every relationship and a great opportunity to grow and expand your understanding of each other and yourself, you’re on your way to becoming a peace maker at work.
The average worker spends at least eight hours a day with the same people, eating, communicating, solving problems, and making progress. When you consider the time you spend dressing and driving to work, your career easily gets the best of your day. That’s more awake, alert hours than most people spend with their spouse, friends, and children. You give your best time, your best behavior, your energy, and sacrifice for a rewarding career. Any environment where so much is given should give something back – meaningful relationships, a sense of satisfaction and purpose, and that good fit feeling. That can only happen when you become a key player on the team and seek to be a peacemaker at work.
Take a look at these 10 ways to be a peace maker at work
- Reverse the gossip. Learn to speak positive words in response to negative conversation. Gossip is a contagious sore in a work environment. When you hear a negative conversation, don’t join in, instead, offer a different perspective. Give the person your best thoughts and give them room to have a bad day. Don’t make one issue with a person turn into a major problem that hinders your ability to work together. Reverse the gossip by bringing something positive into the conversation. Reverse negative talk about your organization by focusing on positive aspects and diligently working to make things better.
- Respect everyone. Every co-worker matters. When you see a situation where one person is disregarded, bullied, or presented in a negative light, speak up and be the example. Be intentional to care for others and offer help when needed. Include everyone when you plan outings and go to lunch. Make your team cohesive in every regard by respecting everyone, even when you have major differences.
- Seek to understand different perspectives and beliefs. Your co-workers have different backgrounds, philosophies, perspectives, and experiences just like a normal family. Allow expression for good communication when there is a need to settle an issue and protect the peaceful environment. Give your co-workers a break and work to understand what they are feeling and what they are going through.
- Consider everyone. Before you make changes, allow people to express their ideas and creativity. If you can’t accommodate them, tell them the reason. If there’s a regulatory issue, a business policy, or business culture that influences the decision, take a moment to explains your position. Get personal buy-in instead of just mandatory compliance.
- Don’t settle significant issues by text or email. Text messages and emails are a great tool for most communication, but some conversations should happen face to face or at least by phone. When you have to disappoint a person, talk to them. Take the time to explain why you can’t accommodate them and look for alternative ways to meet their needs. Keep the peace by making sure all is well before you end the conversation.
- Settle issues quickly. When a conflict happens, don’t put off finding a solution. The longer you wait, the greater the possibility that feelings and emotions will distort the truth.
- Be proactive. Get to know your co-workers and the best ways to work together and communicate effectively. If you have a team member who hates for people to move items on his desk, respect the space and ask before you take anything. If someone is struggling to get their work done because of personal problems, spend some time listening and try to offer help while she makes it through the difficult season.
- Hang out away from work. One of the best ways to get alone is to get to know each other away from the work environment. During a one-hour lunch you learn about personal situations and understand why your coworkers behave a certain way. When you hang out and enjoy time together, you become more patient simply because your coworker is also your friend.
- Be honest. When you have a tough conversation with a team member, be caring, but still tell the truth. It’s better to be disappointed but know the truth, than to feel deceived and angry because you were misled by a manager or co-worker.
- Be trustworthy. Honor what you say so your co-workers can trust you and know what to expect. A lack of trust will dismantle a team, seriously hinder overall effectiveness, and destroy the peace that you want.
In an article, How Peace Plays a Role in the Workplace, Dr. Lynette Reed writes, “When you take time to balance the external workings of your organization with the internal peace within your organization, you create a secure infrastructure that plays a significant role in the success of your organization.”
Be the catalyst that makes your work environment the place where everyone wants to work and no one wants to leave. Start with these 10 Ways To Be a Peace Maker at Work, then add your own ideas to the list. You’ll learn and grow while enjoying a peaceful work environment with the family.
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