Dear Dr. Mimi: Middleman

Dear Dr. Mimi:
Two of my colleagues are in the middle of a dispute, and since I know both participants well, I feel like I’m getting in the middle of things. They both have some legitimate issues and are blaming each other for the situation. I am constantly hearing each side of the argument, and I don’t know how to help! What can I do?
—Middleman

Dear Middleman:
Your concerns are valid, and taking sides is definitely not the way to go. It is more important to resolve the situation than to place blame. If you take sides, you risk alienating one of the individuals and appearing biased to all involved. Encourage both parties to talk about how they feel and to come to a resolution together. If you or someone else can serve as a mediator with both of them in the same room, that can help. If you know the individuals well, you may be able frame the issues to encourage compromise, collaboration and resolution.
—Dr. Mimi

Written By

drmimi

  • Dear Dr. Mimi- Feeling Like A Failure

    Dear Dr. Mimi,I messed up at my job. We had a big project that I worked hard on, and it just wasn’t as successful as we had hoped. I feel like such a failure! How do I tell my boss about it?—Feeling Like a Failure Dear Feeling,It is hard when a project doesn’t go the…

  • Dear Dr. Mimi- Feeling Unfulfilled at Work

    Dear Dr. Mimi,I have been working in my current role at my organization for almost five years. While at first, the role was exciting and satisfying, recently I have found it to be more routine and unfulfilling. I don’t hate what I do, but I don’t love it either. What suggestions do you have in…

  • Role Ambiguity Hurts Everyone

    If job satisfaction and commitment are down, and turnover is up, role ambiguity may be the cause. As organizations navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, addressing role ambiguity is essential for fostering a healthy, motivated, and productive workforce. What is role ambiguity? It is characterized by uncertainty about work responsibilities, roles, and authority. Who…