What may look very funny at Dunder Mifflin in “The Office” may not be so amusing in the real world. There are ways to deal with life in a less than perfect office without losing your mind though. A few suggestions:

Remain Focused – Focusing your energies on the job at hand rather than at what others around you are doing can provide an effective way of coping as well as possibly a way to advance out of the chaos. Keep  working on that report even while your coworkers are headed out for their fifth smoke break of the day or are comparing notes about this weekend’s social plans. Act how you believe a professional should and your efforts will not go unnoticed.

Tune it Out – If you are in the fortunate position of being able to separate yourself and tune the office out a little take advantage of it. Have the radio on low volume at your desk or even wear an Ipod if such a thing is permitted. And if any of your coworkers comment that they think you are being rude just tell them that the music helps you concentrate.

Stay away from the Fray – maybe you should start looking at the goings on around your office as if it were a branch of Dunder Mifflin after all, and treat it like you would a TV show. Sit back as an observer and watch but do not be drawn in. Dysfunctional behavior at work increases because more and more like minded people join in. And never be tempted to return the fire of the office “ego monster” however much they bait you – this is exactly want they want you to do so do not give them the satisfaction.

Leave – In the end though in many cases the best course of action is just to move on. Some managers just never realize that they are losing all their good, talented employees by failing to control a dysfunctional work environment and however much you try to point it out you may never succeed. Save yourself the stress and find a different environment where the work ethic is more in line with your own.