I recently interviewed the authors of Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal, Kathi Elster and Katherine Crowley. These two women created the yin and yang of their company, K Squared Enterprises. Since 1989, they’ve combined their complementary expertise to develop a unique method for dealing with difficult people and challenging conditions at work. Their inside-out approach transforms the way businesses uncover and resolve their greatest interpersonal dilemmas. Bestselling authors, educators, public speakers, and veteran consultants, Katherine and Kathi are seasoned guides in the area of professional fulfillment through self-awareness and self-management. They use humor and a slue of engaging techniques to mediate solutions for individuals at every level of employment — from executives to managers to frontline employees.

Bestselling authors, educators, public speakers, and veteran consultants, Katherine and Kathi are seasoned guides in the area of professional fulfillment through self-awareness and self-management. They use humor and a slue of engaging techniques to mediate solutions for individuals at every level of employment — from executives to managers to frontline employees.

And I love their book topic because UNFORTUNATELY, I have worked with some mean girls…haven’t we all?  It is good to know there is an actual system of how you can deal with these girls so thank you for writing this book Kathi and Katherine!

A few highlights from the Mean Girls at Work author interview: 

• Take the high road approach even though we are designed to befriend.  Realize that you don’t have to be friends with everyone you work with. It is more important to be friendLY and professional. Then, slowly earn their trust.

• Don’t take things personally. Nothing is wrong with you.  You are just dealing with a competitive and jealous co-worker.

• Build alliances with people around you so that you don’t have to react to the mean girls. You can instead ask for feedback informally with your alliance if anyone else has ever had a similar experience.  Find a mentor and talk it through with someone instead of counter attacking.

• Let’s face it….we all gossip once in a while right?  Try a 30-day “No Gossip Diet” and pick a start date.  Zip your lips and walk away from the conversation.  Notice who the “Gossip Girls” are and if there are others you need to distance yourself from for these 30 days.  Gossip can really hurt your work reputation.