Encountering difficult people or workplace adversaries is a common challenge. Many find themselves facing such situations unexpectedly. To better navigate this in the office environment, paying attention to the following layout strategies can be helpful.
I. Core Principles for Your Workspace
- Embrace Understated Decor:
Maintain a low-profile in your workspace setup. Displaying overly flashy or extravagant items can easily provoke jealousy. A modest and understated arrangement helps avoid making unnecessary enemies. - Avoid the “Opposing Position”:
Be mindful of your seating position. An “opposing” or “confrontational” position, where your desk directly faces the main entrance or is squarely aimed at your supervisor’s office, is believed to invite conflict and gossip.- Feng Shui Remedy: Use plants or a small decorative screen to break this direct line of sight and create a subtle barrier.
II. Desk Layout & Decoration Taboos
- Avoid Decor with Fierce Animal Imagery:
It is advisable to avoid ornaments depicting birds of prey, fierce beasts, or predatory animals in the office. This is especially important for managers and executives. Opt for items with softer, more harmonious designs to help reduce obstacles in your work. - Do Not Place Mirrors Facing Your Desk:
While mirrors are common, especially for women, they have a reflective property that needs consideration. Avoid positioning a mirror so it directly reflects your own desk or the workspaces of colleagues. If a mirror is necessary, use a “discreet mirror” (e.g., inside a cabinet door) that is not openly reflecting the office. - Avoid Human-Shaped Dolls or Figurines:
Minimize the display of humanoid dolls or action figures in your workspace, unless they are for professional display purposes. These items are symbolically associated with attracting petty, “backstabbing” energy.
III. Additional Protective Measures
- Ensure You Have a “Solid Backing”:
- Private Office: Follow the “mountain backing” principle. Position your desk and chair so your back is to a solid wall, providing a sense of support and stability.
- Open-Plan Office: If you cannot sit against a wall, place a tall screen or a bookcase behind your chair. This piece should be taller than you are when seated, creating a symbolic “mountain” that makes you less vulnerable to unseen attacks from behind.
- Hang a Wind Chime on the Door:
A wind chime made of metal (e.g., brass) can act as a protective charm. Choose one with a soft, gentle sound that won’t disturb colleagues but is audible to you. Hanging it on the office door serves as a subtle alert when someone enters. The gentle ringing is also thought to disrupt negative energy, helping to dissolve hostile influences and maintain a positive aura. - Use Plants to Dissipate Negative Energy:
Placing plants in the office helps regulate the atmosphere, adds oxygen, and purifies stagnant air and bad vibes. They are particularly effective in neutralizing negative energy from office politics.- Placement: A green plant can be positioned directly in front of your seat. You can also place a large-leafed plant in the corner of a restroom or other problematic area. Beyond their energetic benefits, plants freshen the air and absorb radiation from electronic devices, contributing to better health.
- Place an Aquarium on the Windowsill to “Wash Away” Adversaries:
The North area of an office is a key方位 (fāng wèi – direction) in Feng Shui, associated with the Water element. Placing an aquarium or a small water feature in the North is believed to help flush away stagnant and negative energy from the office. Furthermore, Water element counteracts certain negative stars, thus suppressing their malefic influence.
IV. Essential Daily Conduct
In addition to the environmental adjustments, please pay attention to these daily behaviors:
- Avoid Gossiping: Refrain from complaining or gossiping about colleagues, as it can easily lead to others reporting on you.
- Maintain Appropriate Distance: Keep a professionally courteous distance with certain individuals, especially where competition is inherent.
- Protect Confidential Information: Be discreet about client details and business dealings, as competition among colleagues is inevitable.
- Think Strategically: Carefully consider the impact of major decisions on yourself. Actively seek and cultivate reliable allies and mentors within the organization.