Post Academic

In the final installment of stopping workplace theatrics, I’ll cover the post-drama debriefing. Drama will always break out in the office, no matter how well everyone seems to get along. What counts is how you handle the situation and indicate how drama will be handled in the future.

Root out the true source of the drama. Sometimes, the two people shouting at each other or flaming each other through emails aren’t the most dramatical ones in your office. Imagine some creepy high school kid who lets two girls fight over him. One of your coworkers might have triggered a brawl and is letting it unfold so he can cut through and get what he wants. It’s a slick move because the shouting gets all the attention. You need to take a step back and figure out where the noise is coming from.

Do not get involved. Refer to the “don’t pile on” moment from the “During the Drama” post. If a colleague asks you why everyone started shouting all of a sudden and you must recount the incident, try not to add judgment. Likewise, you can listen to others recount the incident, but just smile and nod. It is always in your best interest to let drama dissipate, and then you can think rationally about the problem.

Caricature of Lionel Brough as Bottom in 1905 Vanity Fair. Image from Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Behave rationally, even if you aren’t feeling rational. You might have every right to be pissed. You know that any sane person would take your side. But that isn’t an excuse to start weeping, wailing and gnashing your teeth. Behave in a calm manner, take deep breaths and focus on the facts if you must speak. If you seem rational, others will follow your lead.

Some people will be dramatical no matter what you do, but you can quell a good portion of emotional eruptions by keeping calm and carrying on, so to speak.