{"id":2527,"date":"2012-12-25T09:09:41","date_gmt":"2012-12-25T13:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=2527"},"modified":"2012-12-25T09:09:41","modified_gmt":"2012-12-25T13:09:41","slug":"pbs-next-avenue-column-tips-for-women-who-work-with-mean-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=2527","title":{"rendered":"PBS Next Avenue column: Tips for Women Who Work With ‘Mean Girls’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"meangirlscover\"<\/a>How hard is it to work hard and be nice?<\/p>\n

For some women, the answer is: Very.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d be surprised to find a woman in the workplace today who doesn\u2019t have a story about a female co-worker or boss who has done them wrong. I know I do.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019m not going to name names because I\u2019ve never found bad-mouthing to be a smart career strategy.<\/p>\n

(Read column on Next Avenue.<\/a>)
\nA Spot-On Workplace Guide<\/strong><\/p>\n

And neither do Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, authors of the new book,\u00a0Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal<\/em><\/a>. Crowley, a Harvard-trained psychotherapist, and Elster, an executive coach\/management consultant, also run New York-based K Squared Enterprises, which helps clients manage difficult situations in the workplace. You may have read their earlier best-sellers:\u00a0Working With You Is Killing Me<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Working for You Isn’t Working for Me<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

For\u00a0Mean Girls at Work<\/em>, the authors interviewed hundreds of women in more than 20 industries who described woman-to-woman relationships on the job that they found confusing or just plan hurtful.<\/p>\n

Crowley and Elster have hit a topic I can personally relate to, one that I believe is more important than ever. They write: \u201cWhile it\u2019s natural to assume that most women support other women and want them to succeed, that\u2019s not always the case. In fact, studies show that many women believe it is their female associates who are most threatened by the prospect of a woman in power.\u201d<\/p>\n

As more and more women enter the workforce and 50-something women increasingly re-enter it after raising a family, the problem is certain to get bigger.<\/p>\n

So smart advice to defuse the tension among women on the job is more imperative than ever.<\/p>\n

Exercise Can Help<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the authors\u2019 tips I heartily endorse is that if you work with mean women (or men, for that matter), purify that toxic energy through exercise. It releases tension and helps you feel better.<\/p>\n

I spoke with Crowley and Elster to get more tips for working with and for \u201cMean Girls.\u201d (I\u2019m not crazy about the term \u201cgirls\u201d when referring to working women, but will set that detail aside.) Below are highlights from our interview followed by my own advice.<\/p>\n

(MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>What to Do When You Work for a Bully<\/a>)<\/p>\n

What\u2019s it like for women in their 50s and 60s who have to deal with mean women at work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crowley<\/strong>: The good news for mature women is that they are less likely to be negatively affected by some of the standard \u201cmean girl\u201d practices.<\/p>\n

Most women in their 50s or 60s have a strong sense of self. They know who they are and aren\u2019t overly concerned with winning the approval of other women. Disapproving glances, critical remarks or subtle put-downs from another woman have less of an impact than they do on younger women.<\/p>\n

Aren\u2019t some older women mean, too?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crowley:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes. A mature woman is perfectly capable of being mean herself. If she feels threatened by her younger boss or competitive with a female colleague, she may roll her eyes when that woman speaks, put down her ideas or make cutting remarks about her lack of experience.<\/p>\n

Why are some working women especially tough on other working women?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crowley<\/strong>: Studies show that women tend to hold each other to higher standards than they do men. Wired to \u201ctend and befriend,\u201d most women expect their female colleagues to be helpful, collaborative, cooperative and friendly.<\/p>\n

Elster:<\/strong>\u00a0Women tend to be harsh on each other when they feel threatened.\u00a0 If a woman senses that her colleague is superior to her, she may \u201cattack\u201d that colleague by saying something negative about her or by shutting her out. A woman who is consistently harsh toward one of her colleagues probably feels jealous, envious or threatened by that individual.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your advice to anyone working for or with a mean woman who\u2019s much younger?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crowley<\/strong>: You should know that she is largely operating from insecurity. Try not to take her behavior personally. If she cuts you out of a project or fails to include you in meetings, remind yourself that this is not about you.<\/p>\n

And do\u00a0not\u00a0<\/em>attack back. Do not go around bad-mouthing her to your workmates or making fun of her behind closed doors.<\/p>\n

Elster<\/strong>: See if you can meet with this woman in private. Express your desire to have a good working relationship and ask her what it will take for the two of you to work well together.<\/p>\n

Acknowledge the expertise she brings to her position and let her know that you\u2019d like both of you to succeed.<\/p>\n

If you take the high road and focus on your shared professional goal \u2014 to produce positive results for your employer \u2014 you may be able to change the dynamic.<\/p>\n

(MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0How to Get Along With Younger Co-Workers<\/a>)<\/p>\n

My Advice To You<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think Crowley and Elster make good points. My advice: Take your own inventory. It\u2019s easy to blame others when there\u2019s a personality conflict between you and another woman at work, but it\u2019s best to examine your actions, too. You may just find some aha moments.<\/p>\n

If you’re somehow at fault, make amends. You might start by talking to an objective outsider, like your mentor. An apology never hurts. We all slip up from time to time and a catty remark can sneak out.<\/p>\n

The bottom line: Make sure\u00a0you’re<\/em>\u00a0not the “mean girl.” If you realize that you\u2019re acting out, change your behavior. Put simply, it never hurts to keep your side of the street clean \u2014 and it really isn\u2019t so hard to play nicely with others. I learned that in kindergarten.<\/p>\n

posted by\u00a0Kerry Hannon<\/a>, \u00a0More by this author<\/a><\/p>\n
\"BookKerry Hannon has spent more than 25 years covering personal finance for Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report, and USA Today. Her website is\u00a0kerryhannon.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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