How many of you have experienced situations like this?
You are chattering with your colleagues in the common teashop near to the office. That sudden remark pop from one among the group, “I didn’t like today’s project presentation of so-and-so. It’s really lagging and so boring.” You wonder that all others in the group agree with the statement. They laugh about the defects of a person’s project presentation that you found pretty well. However, you proclaim solidarity with their statement just because of peer pressure.
Yes, it is true that people badly affected by peer pressure in the workplace similar to any other space. Peer pressure can affect employees by changing their attitude, behavior, value, and mental well-being. And, sometimes, it leads to chaos inside the desk room.
Regardless of the type of peer pressure, there are different ways to overcome it. The right approach at the right time can resolve these issues to a certain extent.
Here we discuss a few ways to handle peer pressure in the workplace.
Showing unwillingness or saying ‘no’ to your unlike things is the first step to overcome peer pressure. Your ‘no’ in certain circumstances will help create an impression with the others that you are not a flexible person with each situation. This attitude can help you stay unique or different among the others in the workplace.
In addition, make sure that your ‘no’ is not hurting your colleagues. Stay polite and show your unwillingness.
If you meet a situation when you come to know that your colleagues are planning for an alcoholic party prior to an event, the best response that you can show from your side is, stay away from it. Let your friends know that you will meet them at the event itself. Avoiding situations that might tempt you can help you avoid peer pressure altogether.
In your free time, think about what kind of friends surrounded you. Recall your good interactions with them versus your bad interactions. If you feel like they impose more pressure upon you for each silly matter, it is better for you to find some new friends. Forget about the temporary pain that will come from the break-up with these friends. Try to understand the fact that if you feel hard to say good-bye to your friends, it might be harder for you to say ‘no’ to peer pressure.
If you are struggling a lot, and feel like you can’t handle peer pressure anymore, you should make an open conversation with your most trusted colleague in the office. Sit with the person in a comfortable space inside or outside your office, and make the person understand that you are suffering too much.
Don’t feel bad to open up your issues. Sometimes, that person might have gone through similar situations. In this case, he/she can guide you properly to overcome peer pressure.
