Winning the Real Office War: Professionalism in the Face of Petty
Because sometimes the real office war isn’t about work—it’s about surviving your seatmate.
If you’ve ever worked in a Ghanaian office, you know this truth: there’s always one person who tests your self-control more than your deadlines.
For Efua, that person was Bernard Owusu, the self-proclaimed king of “I was just about to do it”, a man who could drain the joy out of a Monday morning with just one loud “Good moooorning…, team!”
The Setup.
Efua was calm. Efficient. A bit reserved. She came to work, did her job, avoided drama, and left right after saying “Good evening, boss” (whether the boss heard or not).
Bernard was… everything she wasn’t.
Loud. Overconfident. Late with work but early to join every office gossip session. He once spilt Coke on the shared printer and blamed it on “network issues.”
So when HR paired them on the Q3 Internal Operations Review Committee, she thought, “This must be a spiritual attack.”
Their first interaction set the tone:
Efua: “Let’s divide the slides. I’ll handle the analysis.”
Bernard: “Cool. I’ll just ‘supervise the storytelling angle.’”
(Translation: he wasn’t planning to do much.)
The Clashes.
- He chewed gum like it was personal.
- She sent structured emails; he replied with voice notes. I guess you can relate, recalling that coworker who responds to every email via Slack! It just does not make sense!
- During a presentation prep, he whispered, “Let’s freestyle.” She nearly resigned on the spot.
The tension was building, and the office noticed.
People started betting on how long Efua would last before snapping.
Even the receptionist stopped saying “good morning” when the two walked in together.

But Efua wasn’t giving them the show they expected. Not because she wasn’t tempted, but because she knew something Bernard didn’t:
“In every workplace, there’s always someone watching. And not everyone who’s loud is being heard.”
The Turning Point.
One Thursday evening, Efua stayed late to tidy the deck (again). As she packed her bag, she overheard two junior colleagues talking near the pantry:
“Honestly, I respect Efua. Bernard is too much, but she never reacts. She just gets things done.”
It stopped her cold. She realized: She wasn’t just surviving Bernard. She was setting a standard.
The Silent Strategy.
The next day, she walked in, greeted Bernard calmly, and handed him a printed list of tasks with checkboxes.
“We’re presenting next week. These are the sections. Kindly review and update your parts by Monday. Let me know if you need clarity.”
No emotion. No sarcasm. Just structure.
Surprisingly, he complied. No excuses. No jokes. For the first time, he showed up. Perhaps embarrassed. Perhaps impressed. Or maybe… just outplayed.
They presented. The bosses were impressed. Their team lead clapped twice. And Bernard? He mumbled afterwards, “You dey handle things well, chale.”
Efua smiled.
Not because they were friends.
But because professionalism won, without a shouting match, without pettiness, and without compromising her peace.
Table of Contents
Moral of the Story:
In the Ghanaian workplace, you may not always work with people you like.
But you can always choose how you respond.
Respect the work. Protect your energy.
And remember: Professionalism is louder than petty.
Here are 5 compelling reasons to stay professional at work even when you don’t like your colleagues.
1. Your Reputation Outlives the Conflict
Your attitude at work is part of your professional brand. Staying respectful, focused, and composed, even in challenging situations, demonstrates emotional intelligence and maturity. People may forget who annoyed you, but they’ll remember how you handled it.
2. Teamwork Isn’t About Friendship-It’s About Results
You don’t have to like everyone to deliver great work. Professionalism helps you focus on shared goals rather than personal preferences. At the end of the day, your ability to collaborate effectively matters more than your feelings toward a colleague.
3. It Protects Your Mental and Emotional Energy
Engaging in office drama or letting dislike dictate your behaviour is draining. Professionalism helps you set boundaries, manage stress, and focus on what truly matters—your performance, growth, and overall well-being.
4. Leadership Takes Note of How You Handle Pressure
One of the hallmarks of leadership potential is the ability to remain composed under pressure. By staying professional despite personality clashes, you demonstrate readiness for bigger responsibilities and build trust with management.
5. You Never Know Who Might Be Key to Your Next Opportunity
Today’s difficult colleague might be tomorrow’s gatekeeper to a project, referral, or recommendation. Maintaining a civil and professional demeanour ensures that you never close doors that might later open unexpectedly.
You’re not being fake, you’re being focused. In the workplace, professionalism isn’t about pretending to like everyone; it’s about protecting your purpose, building trust, and rising above distractions.