Finding Peace in the Office

As a new employee (working with new Team Work) begging my day trying to acclimatize with the new professional environment I realized that one of my Social responsibilities is to maintain a professional attitude.
So I started to look for books or articles ….ect guide me in that.
One of those, this article which I'd like everybody to share it with me. I'd read it at CareerBuilder.com.

-Handling Difficult Coworkers-
Like any social situation, a professional environment is bound to have its good and bad apples. There is no rule that says that once you find a job, you will enjoy working with each of your coworkers. In fact, you are bound to run into a colleague who irritates or even offends you. In these situations, it often becomes your responsibility to maintain a professional attitude. Here are some common types of “nightmare coworkers” and tips on how to keep your reputation intact, no matter what.
1. The Office Gossip – Most offices have one person with a direct connection to the company grapevine. This person has the “scoop” all the time and is not afraid to share it. While it can be fun to be in on the office news for a while, it is best to be cautious when presented with office gossip. The majority of gossip is false and hurtful. If you keep information to yourself instead of passing it on, your coworkers will come to see you as reliable and trustworthy. In addition, deciding not to spread gossip is one of the best ways to keep yourself from eventually becoming the subject.

1. The Office Gossip – Most offices have one person with a direct connection to the company grapevine. This person has the “scoop” all the time and is not afraid to share it. While it can be fun to be in on the office news for a while, it is best to be cautious when presented with office gossip. The majority of gossip is false and hurtful. If you keep information to yourself instead of passing it on, your coworkers will come to see you as reliable and trustworthy. In addition, deciding not to spread gossip is one of the best ways to keep yourself from eventually becoming the subject.

2. The Constant Complainer – Misery loves company, and some individuals are just not happy in any situation. These employees are not afraid to complain, and do it often and vocally. But in an office environment, negativity often means lower productivity and company morale. Complainers typically seek out others who will share their grief. Your best bet is to listen respectfully if someone approaches you to vent, but not to join in. Sooner or later, the complainer will stop using you as a sounding board and you will not have to risk being labeled a negative employee.

3. The Nosey Neighbor – Many workplaces are set up in an open environment, with employees situated in cubes rather than in offices. This layout is great for employees who love to learn as much as possible about coworkers’ professional and personal lives. If you are faced with a colleague who always knows what is going on in your life, you might want to be more discreet at work. This means keeping personal calls to a minimum, or utilizing a conference room to handle personal business. If your nosey neighbor has truly crossed the line, talk to your manager about the situation. The company may be able to make adjustments in the office layout to provide you with more privacy.

4. The Office Thief – The office thief typically is not known for stealing pens and pencils, but for stealing credit and ideas. You may find that an idea you brought up casually is later presented formally by this individual, with no reference to your input. Unfortunately, you won’t do yourself much good by yelling “that was my idea!” Steer clear of this person, particularly when it comes to brainstorming or sharing ideas and materials. Be professional, but also be guarded in your interactions with the office thief.

5. The All-Around Unpleasant Coworker – While some individuals in the office cause problems without being blatantly offensive, this individual is downright nasty. He or she is rude, arrogant, condescending, and just not enjoyable to be around. There are a couple of tips for dealing with this coworker. The first is realizing that you never know the whole story. This person might have something going on in his or her life that is causing the negativity. Try having an open conversation – privately, of course – to discuss the interactions between the two of you, but be careful about how you approach the conversation. You want to be seen as supportive and open, rather than accusing. Next, talk to your manager or human resources rep about the situation. It never hurts to document issues, and you may be able to decrease the amount of interaction you have with this individual.
Bottom line: If you keep out of the negative situations that arise, you will save yourself a great deal of heartache in the future. Remember that the workplace is an environment that mixes a wide variety of personality types. The trick is staying true to yourself, getting your job done and doing what you can to ensure you are happy at the end of each day, even if it means biting your tongue from time to time.

REF: Career Builder.com.

Egyptian executives succeed with global business strategy
Managers complete U.S.-supported training


Cairo, Egypt, December 30, 2003 -- Business executives in Egypt are increasing their exports and workforces by applying global strategies through a training program supported by the United States. At a graduation ceremony this month honoring 32 senior Egyptian business executives who completed the 15-month Executive Development Program, participants said their businesses have already grown from their use of the newly learned strategies.



§ One medical equipment firm succeeded in increasing its market share by opening new branches and distribution channels, more than doubling its workforce to 190 employees.

§ A garment firm slashed its production lead time and, applying lessons on using the Internet to seek market opportunities, won a contract to make 400,000 shirts for a major U.S. retailer.

§ Two companies said the strategies helped them land export customers for new product lines.

§ A food company applied lessons to drastically lower the construction cost of a new plant.

§ A textile firm and bank each reduced their costs by 10 percent.

§ One pharmaceutical firm reduced order-processing time and phone costs, and another increased sales staff productivity to increase sales by 30 percent.



The graduates were commended at the December 6 ceremony by Mohammad Farouk Hafiz, Secretary General of the Future Generations Foundation, and Tarek Tawfik, Managing Director of Farm Frites Egypt. The training is part of the United States’ cooperative agreement with the Government of Egypt to raise the skill level of Egypt’s workforce in order to strengthen the economy, increase exports, and attract investment. The programs are implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development through its Management Development Initiative.



The Executive Development Program helps Egyptian executives adopt world-class management practices through workshops with international experts, discussions, and study groups covering subjects including strategic planning, marketing, finance, human resources, global competitiveness, and technology such as enterprise resource planning software. Another class of 35 executives began the Executive Development Program in September and will graduate in December 2004. USAID is also providing focused management assistance for three companies until February 2004 through the Corporate Development Program.



USAID/Egypt has funded training for more than 34,000 Egyptians since 1997 in economic growth and workforce skills. USAID officials encouraged private-sector groups to sponsor similar “continuing education” programs to expose Egyptian executives to international best practices. For future training opportunities, see the online Career Development Center of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt at www.amcham.org.eg.