While no work place is perfect, the key is the frequency and intensity of the problems. The best thing you can do is take responsibility for your own behavior. Awareness of your own communication style and family dynamics is the place to start.

• Take inventory of your behaviors and reactions to your boss and co-workers. Don’t be too hard on yourself, but do take an honest look at whether or not you are happy with how you are handling things. Take time to review Positive Communications Skills since effective communication can be the key to good workplace relationships.

• Ask yourself who the people you are working with remind you of. Many women working for male bosses unconsciously play out issues they may have had with their fathers or may be having with their husbands. Women working for female bosses may be trying too hard to please and expecting too much nurturing. Just gaining awareness of this issue can help you to resolve it.

• Don’t expect everyone to like you. People are different and you aren’t going to like everyone you work with and not everyone you work with is going to like you. That’s ok. This is work, not your personal life.

• Focus on co-worker's abilities, not on their personalities. Even if you don’t like someone’s “style”, you can still respect their work.

• You are not your work. If you don’t meet your numbers one month or don’t get positive feedback about your project or department, it does not mean you are a bad person. Step back and take an objective look at how you can improve your performance. If this one is very hard for you, take some time to review your own Personal Boundaries and work on your life outside of work.

• Treat others with respect and expect the same in return.

• If, after considering your own role in work issues, you still feel there are issues, speak with your supervisor or Human Resources Representative for assistance.