Most people will tell you of the varied office disputes they have experienced at one time or another.

You know the scenario, where there is a disagreement over a simple thing as whose turn it is to do some mediocre chore, hence before you can figure out exactly what is going on or remembered what triggered the disagreement, hostilities commence, battle-lines are drawn, and your working environment becomes a battle-ground.

This can be gravely stressful. There's nothing worse than having to get up and go to work, a place where we spent most of our waking hours, to an unpleasant atmosphere of dissention.

My best advice, whenever possible, is to stay out of the dispute. By minding your own business, it may eventually blow over and resolve itself. If you don't, you can be forced into the position of taking sides, hence at times creating more havoc.

Unfortunately, many times it is impossible to remain neutral. If, for instance, you are the immediate supervisor or the manager in charge of a particular department of the ones disputing, or they depend on each other to perform their various job responsibilities, you simply don't have a choice, you must intervene to avoid casualties.

This is where you need to sharpen-up your mediating skills to intercede, address and reconcile the dispute as early as possible. First, avoid jumping in and taking sides when there's an all out argument in progress at your office place.

It is better to stay in the background for a brief moment, listening intently and trying to figure out exactly what the squabble is all about. Try to encourage the rest of the office staff to stay out of the dispute and get the feuding parties away from an audience and into a private area.

Disputes in the workplace can stem from numerous mishaps and sometimes easily be agitated by aggressive behaviour.

According to Christine Person, a management professor at the University of North Carolina, in a San Francisco Chronicle article, some of the workplace aggressions include: Talking about someone behind his/her back; flaunting status or authority; acting in a condescending manner; or belittling someone's opinion to others; failing to respond to phone calls or memos; insults, yelling and shouting. Communication is the best way to solve any dispute.

Talking it out allows all parties to have their say. This must be conducted in a calm manner. If you're lucky, this may be only what is needed to resolve the matter.

After hearing all sides of the scenario, make sure that a decision is made and each individual involved understands exactly what is expected in ending the dispute.

Friction in the office place is not pleasant to deal with, but ignoring it will only allow it to escalate and further prevent the smooth process and progress of work.

This will definitely lead to disaster in work performance for all.

Cindy Swan is a professional organiser with over 20 years of office administrative and managerial experience. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organisers.

Her column appears in the business section on the first and third Monday of each month. Address inquiries to Cindy Swan, PO Box 304 St. George's GEBX or email her at organize y ibl.bm.