How to deal with amorous overtures
This can be a difficult situation to handle and very often difficult to define. Different people have different ways on how to deal with amorous overtures but here are some guidelines that can be followed
By DeskDemon.com
- Maintain an image of professionalism and authority. Provocative attire
- plunging necklines, glittery make-up, skin-tight denims - does not belong
in the business world.
- Be careful when asking for "special favours". You may find that the
person in question will come to collect what he/she believes to be his/her
due for having indulged you.
- It may be important to participate in business lunches or dinners as
part of your job function. Try to discern which are for business and which
might be for pleasure. Assess the purpose of an invitation. If you are
confident that it is 'pleasure' then decline politely.
- Be careful about accepting a drinks invitation for after hours. Many
people have found that a person who behaves perfectly in the office becomes
aggressive when they are having a drink alone together.
- Try to draw a line between behaviour that is friendly and behaviour
that is too friendly. This is one of those areas that is sometimes difficult
to define but if you feel uncomfortable with the situation that by all
means consider the behaviour too friendly. Avoid discussing your personal
problems or personal social life. If you are asked pointed sexual questions,
counter with the assertion that you are concentrating on your career,
and try to steer the conversation to the work at hand.
- Refer to a real or imaginary partner / protector, which tells the other
person that you are exclusively involved with someone else.
- Bring their partner and family into the conversation. This will make
them aware of the fact that you know about them and by talking about them
you are reminding him/her of his/her commitments and responsibilities.
- If these avoidance tactics don't work and he still persists, deal with
him/her directly. You can reject his/her advances in a number of ways
- from a joking response to a blunt 'no'. This depends on you and whichever
method you would prefer.
- If you decide the situation is serious enough to warrant going above their head to complain prepare your case thoroughly. Before you speaking to superiors, make sure you have concrete situations dates, and experiences. This is a difficult accusation and will have repercussions for a long time on all concerned so make sure this is the correct action to undertake.
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By DeskDemon.com
