Every workplace develops its own culture; employees and employers have impact on and participate in the formation the culture of workplace. We contribute to its formation by being active, responsive, passive, silent, or indifferent…

‘Culture of competition/domination’ is seen as the most noticeable culture in our workplaces nowadays. This culture fuels most conflicts among people at workplaces and damages our relationships and interactions with one another.

The presence of ‘culture of competition/domination’ prevents people from experience of togetherness, cooperation and empathy. It eliminates and diminishes possibilities to collaboration and exploration of ideas. It silences actions that give space to alternative ways of working together at workplace.

Many people are fired/ resigned from their workplaces; mostly because their effort to reduce the presence of ‘disconnection, imposition and domination’ was minimized; or because both parties weren’t able to resolve differences and conflicts; or because a vital system that encourages a fair decision- making process, support, acknowledgment and shared vision , is missing at workplace and so forth.

I believe we would have a better world if we stand up to the ‘culture of competition/domination’ and begin to explore fundamental principles such as cooperation, respect, collaboration and reciprocity at workplace.

If we can do that, we can really change our world, our workplace. When we begin to create new forms and structures that reflect on our values and our desire for work that is characterized by these principles, we will have a workplace that is built on cooperation and reciprocity and mutual contributions.

I believe both employees and employers need to look into themselves and revise their responses to each other. We need to take initiatives to change the undesirable culture of workplace. Employees and employers need to take responsibility for their own part and respond to the culture of ‘competition/domination’ differently.

Let’s resist the temptation of ignoring/dismissing/and denying these events in our workplace, and take a moment to reflect on what is actually happening at our workplace and how we can make a difference.

Happy Possibilities,

Tahereh Barati, M.A, RMFT