by Kristin Stamp

Created on: July 04, 2008   Last Updated: January 28, 2012

Getting along with those you dislike may be difficult, especially if they are people of whom you see every day, such as co-workers. No one is perfect and as a result there will be some conflict among us. You will always find something to dislike about another person and others will always find something to dislike about you. The key to surviving this malicious cycle of discord is compromise. As civil members of society it is in everyone's best interest to not only stand up for our own opinions, but be willing to consider others' opinions as well.

This approach can be notably effective in the workplace, where much conflict can take place between opposing co-workers. It is very important to find ways of subsiding conflict with your co-workers since your work reputation may be at risk, and the well being of the company you work for may be damaged. Often, dislike for another stems from how we perceive another person, and what we perceive can often be misleading. People can see things that may not be accurate, or things can be over heard out of context. This leads to unwanted gossip and inappropriate exchanges among the opposing parties. Always maintaining your dignity, composure, and never forgetting that you're an adult is the first step to finding peace.

Second, try changing your perception of the person you dislike by focusing on the positives. What do you like about this person? What do you have in common with them? Are the annoyances of this person all that bad? Maybe discussing your differences can lead to small changes in each other's behavior to make it easier for you to coexist. After all, you spend as much time, if not more, with your co-workers than you do with your own family. Make it a more comfortable environment for yourselves by putting your differences aside. If you find it too uncomfortable to approach the person one-on-one, you may want to bring it to the attention of your manager or supervisor. Managers would always prefer keeping the peace among it's staff, and would be more than willing to set up a conference and step in as a mediator for the conflicting individuals to voice their opinions with one another in a productive manor.

Being proactive and willing to make positive changes in these situations is a much more mature way than being passive aggressive and maintaining unnecessary animosity toward another. Working alongside people you like, or at the very least with those you can sustain a professional relationship with, will always bring you more success and happiness.

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