No one wants beef with a colleague, so how do we avoid it?

Workplace bickering or drama can be a disaster for employees and affect productivity, efficiency, and team cohesion.

For those unfamiliar with the term “beef”, it relates to forms of disagreement, fighting, or arguing. In the case of workplace “beef”, it often comes from the initial issue of not getting along with your co-workers, which can cause an array of issues that ultimately lead to colleagues fighting, arguing or bickering with each other, thus ensuing the beef.

There has never been a greater disparity of ages in the workplace, with members of a variety of generations now working in close quarters with each other. Mix that with a diverse group from various backgrounds, and the differences will grow larger.

With so many different generations and cultures working together, there’s bound to be plenty of differing opinions as well. There are a number of strategies that can be implemented that will ensure that a team works harmoniously and effectively, dissuading any possible chances of arguments or disagreements becoming a real issue.

According to Hays, learning to appreciate everyone’s unique preferences, habits, and behaviours can be a common courtesy that can go a long way.

“When we fundamentally struggle to relate to someone due to generational and/or cultural differences, we often resort to harmful stereotypes and blame solvable problems on each other instead of working to understand, and value, the differences between us,” Hays said.

Pushing blame onto fellow colleagues is a recipe for disaster and can prove to be gasoline to a fire in terms of creating internal tension between staff. To avoid this, fully ditching those harmful stereotypes is a must, and refocusing attention towards creating a common understanding should be pushed to the forefront.

“Gaining an understanding of these nuances is essential to getting on with each other, and is even more important for managers and those who aim to be managers in the future. Sometimes, the simple acknowledgment of differences at the very beginning goes a long way to finding solutions,” Hays said.

A first impression is a key passage in forming a relationship with a colleague. If someone is rude to you, neglects, or looks down on you when you first meet them, it will be difficult not to harbour negative feelings or hold onto negative connotations about that person throughout the foreseeable future.

Good communication throughout these initial interactions can be vital in the long run. Effective communication will break down those early barriers and differences, which will instead allow for common ground between colleagues to be discovered. As these discussions continue, a positive relationship can begin to form, negating the possibility of drama or petty disagreements.

In terms of other co-workers fighting between themselves, it is crucial that leaders and other employees step in and address the conflict in its early stages to reduce the threat of any long-term effects.

According to Indeed, here are some keys to putting a stop to co-workers fighting:

• Confront it immediately.
• Hear both sides.
• Express understanding and empathy.
• Identify the issue.
• Get HR involved.
• Enforce discretion.
• Create solutions.
• Document your meetings and plan of action.
• Promote teamwork.

It’s extremely important that co-workers’ fighting is immediately addressed because workplace arguments and tension can develop into even larger problems, affecting the entire organisation. Overall, it comes back to managers and leaders to create a positive environment where employees can feel free to be themselves without ridicule.

Constructive conversations are constant in a workplace, but they should not drift into bickering, arguments or beef. If they do, it must be stamped out immediately to avoid any negative consequences on the business and the individuals involved.