ASAP Canada Staffing

Today we want to feature Avery Agustine’s ideas on learning which battles are worth fighting with your co-workers.

Based on her experience, when you disagree with a corporate policy, or are convinced your boss isn’t going to get the best results with the program she wants to implement, the solution seems easy: Voice your opposition—right?

While speaking your mind is admirable (and, as many managers will tell you, a valuable asset in an employee), it’s not always worth your (or your team’s) time to pursue every issue you disagree with.

Here are some questions worth asking before trying to put together a revolution inside your office:

1. Are Personal Feelings Getting in the Way?

You’re not going to be best friends with everyone you work with. In fact, there may be a few co-workers you flat out dislike. But when you start to mix your professional responsibilities with your personal feelings, it suddenly become a lot easier to pick arguments

2. Will it Put Me in a Bad Light—and If So, Is it Worth It? 

Your particular stance against a corporate policy, as silly as it may seems, can make you look not so good, especially if no one else is backing you up.

3. Am I Willing to Do More Than Complain?

Take a close enough look, and there are certainly things you don’t like about your organization. Maybe you think a process needs to be more efficient, your CRM software needs to have different functionality, or management needs to employ a different leadership style.

If with the complain there is no call to action or suggestion to alternate solution you can’t expect the situation will ever change. Without a willingness to help, picking those battles became an unproductive venting session.