Stop The Catfights

(Listen to it here.)

This article is one of my favorites on WomensMedia:  Cheat Sheet for Working Well with Men by Gail Evans who was Executive V.P. of CNN. Gail gives 29 tips for women in business in her article and there’s not a single one that I’d edit out!

If I had to pick my favorite piece of business advice for women—well I will—it’s this one:

Your co-workers are not your family. You don’t pick them and it doesn’t matter who you like or dislike. It may be unpleasant, but you simply have to work with them. You have to be more strategic, listen more, and protect yourself. These are good skills to hone.

Hmmm, it’s not easy, is it? But you know it’s good advice and especially pertinent for women in the business world.

I’ve received emails asking for advice on handling difficult women who work with you—particularly the type of women who smile at you and then sabotage you behind your back. My Women in Business Tip of the Week gives you that advice, without resulting in a catfight.

Now here it is.

Women in Business Tip of the Week:

Each of us has to go through the Ignore Her Stage and then the Fight Back Stage before we find that they usually don’t pan out well. They can result in an all out catfight. It’s surprising what sometimes works. I call it Let’s Get To Know You Better Stage. Pretend that she’s done nothing to harm you. Talk to her about her interests, all the while trying to find a few things you like. It’s not necessary to make her your best friend, but maybe you can place her in a neutral camp where she’s not attacking you and you aren’t fending off the slings and arrows. And the last step—for your own benefit—is to forgive her prior behavior by chalking it up to low self-esteem, jealousy, or loneliness.

I tried this technique once, just for the heck of it, and now I’m a believer. Give it try too and let us know at www.WomensMedia.com how this worked for you.

Be sure to visit our site, www.WomensMedia.com to get Expert Advice for Women in Business.

Further Reading:

Website, WomensMedia, by Gail Evans, Cheat Sheet for Working Well with Men

Blog, Women’s Lunch Talk, by Nancy Clark, Working With Women Without Catfighting.

Podcast (always about 5 minutes), Working in Heels, by Nancy Clark, What’s With This Catfighting? or read it here.

Website, WomensMedia, by Kimberly Wiefling, Unmasking the Impostor Syndrome.

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