Stop Workplace Drama

Gossip, complaints, low morale, power struggles, poor leadership. What do all of these have in common? They are all symptoms of workplace drama. Though many people expect some drama to come along with any job, they are overlooking the underlying effects it brings to the workplace. Drama affects the well-being, efficiency and success of not only an individual, but an organization as a whole as well.   

For companies and individuals that are looking to create a more balanced and less negative workplace by cutting out the drama, communications consultant and author Marlene Chism’s book Stop Workplace Drama; Train Your Team to Have No Complaints, No Excuses, and No Regrets (Wiley; Hardcover; January 2011; $24.95; 978-0-470-88573-4) guides readers through her eight steps of empowerment process. The process in the book helps individuals increase clarity and improve productivity and personal effectiveness, leading to an increase in teamwork, a reduction in stress and an improvement in workplace performance.

To aid all varieties of drama, Chism gives the term a universal definition - any obstacle to an individual’s peace and prosperity. With this definition in mind, Chism explains how her eight steps of empowerment; which involves searching for clarity, self-examination, self-awareness, trust, collaboration, rejuvenation, awareness and creativity; can release drama from an individual’s life and keep it out of the workplace all together. 

With Stop Workplace Drama, Chism shows how to change the way individuals and organizations confront and work through problems, implement effective management strategies in a drama-filled organization, and find new solutions that create positive growth for every member of a company. The book advises how to:

• Understand the different kinds of "drama roles" played in the office—and how to work through them
• Create healthy boundaries, get work needs met, and make the most of valuable time
• Seek viable opportunities and take responsibility for an individual’s efforts
• Instill necessary changes without unleashing fear in an organization—which can lead to conflict
• Cut through personal drama so that it doesn't create further issues at work

Stop Workplace Drama engages managers and employees with the tools to clear the fog, recognize choices, change communication dynamics, and navigate towards change.