Workplace Or A Battle Zone, How To Win?

Are you engaged in daily combat with your co-workers? It’s time to face down the enemy and take command. Does your workplace resemble a battle zone? John Naughton profiles the rank and file – and ways to beat them.

- John Naughton

Win the War from your desk

War is hell. And, more often than not, work is, too. Which is why, sometimes you need to think of your office as a battlefield and ready yourself for conflict. First, know your enemy, who comes in many varieties and rarely makes it obvious by wearing a pith helmet (assuming your place of work is not a vintage military milliner’s). However, kind of inglorious basterds who features in every decent war film are also to be found in your office. Here they are, and here’s how you make sure that for them the war is over.

THE COCKY YOUNG GUN

Codename: Operation Give Him Enough Rope

He (it’s normally he) is straight out of “uni" and believes he’ll blitzkrieg his way to the corner office with his explosive mixture of hard work, bright ideas and ferocious brown-nosing. Everyone else is just collateral damage.

Countermeasures: Although he initially appears dangerous, he’ll normally either settle down or burn out, so a light touch is needed here. Just guide him into the nearest office minefield and stand well back. Make a virtue of saying, “Thanks fo your input, but I’m going to do it this way. Repeat if necessary.

THE RAT

Codename: Operation Verminator