Unfortunately, many workplaces deal with unnecessary drama.
What’s going on? Usually I like work and can get a lot done. But right now, I feel like all my mental space is consumed by trying to help everyone get along. Is something off or is it just me?
If the above statement has recently flitted through your head, you may have a case of unnecessary drama on your hands. By unnecessary, I mean not caused by any true emergencies and not conflict that’s leading to healthy resolution and better outcomes.
Summary
Unnecessary drama at work can consume mental energy and time, reducing productivity and workplace health. It often stems from non-urgent conflicts that don’t lead to positive outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Signs you may be dealing with it include:
- Extreme hesitation to raise small issues – Even simple suggestions can trigger conflict, leading people to stay silent to avoid drama.
- Feeling like you’re in a fight before conversations even happen – Anticipating conflict and mentally defending yourself before discussions is a red flag.
- What a healthy environment looks like: You can raise both minor and major topics without fear of overreaction or personal attacks.
As a time management coach, I have noticed that this type of drama whether it be with peers, direct reports, your boss, or your clients can consume massive amounts of time. Unnecessary drama can happen both while you’re working and when you’re not on the clock. The issue is that the tension forces you to turn the situation over and over in your head—causing teams to be less productive and healthy.
Here are five ways to know if you’re dealing with unnecessary and unhealthy dynamics at work.
Extreme hesitation when broaching even small issues
It’s normal to want to think through high-stakes discussions carefully before having a conversation with your colleagues. But you’re likely experiencing unnecessary drama at work if you feel extreme hesitation to bring up even the smallest topics, such as “I think we should buy different paper towels for the break room.”
In a high-drama environment, even the tiniest suggestions can cause offense and lead to hours of back and forth. In a high-drama environment, rather than a simple “yes” or “no” to the paper towel suggestion, you may deal with days of someone upset that you seemingly questioned their supply ordering abilities. With instances like these, workers will choose to say nothing to avoid the chance of conflict.
What healthy looks like: You can bring up low-stakes items without any fear of a strong reaction or need for an extended discussion.
You feel like you’re in a fight before the conversation begins
Another way to spot unnecessary drama at work is to notice whether you start fighting with coworkers in your head before your conversation actually begins. For instance, instead of simply thinking that you should suggest a new website analytics strategy at your next staff meeting and coming up with a few key points, you may go through a whole back-and-forth debate in your head in advance. You may assume that they’ll shoot you down, so you come loaded with ways to defend yourself and your position and prove to them that they’re wrong. If all day long you’re thinking “If they say this, then I’ll say that,” you’re likely dealing with unnecessary drama.
What healthy looks like: You can talk about your ideas without having to worry about defending yourself from attack before, during, or after the conversation. Have you tried setting a timer to help you focus on the job? If so, how did it work for you?
You can read my other three tips on how to spot this huge timesuck and what healthy looks like in my Fast Company article here: How to Spot Unnecessary Drama at Work
About Real Life E
Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time management coach and best-selling author who empowers individuals who feel guilty, overwhelmed and frustrated to feel peaceful, confident and accomplished. She helps people struggling with new levels of responsibility after receiving a promotion or becoming a parent, who aren’t meeting expectations at work, or who need better work-life balance to overcome burnout.
Elizabeth was named one of the World’s Top 30 Time Management Professionals by Global Gurus every year since 2018 and is a member of Forbes Coaches Council. McGraw Hill published her first book The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success with Less Stress. Harvard Business Review published her second book How to Invest Your Time Like Money. And FaithWords published her third book Divine Time Management. Elizabeth regularly writes time management articles for Harvard Business Review and Fast Company and has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox.
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