So remember how I was discussing my entanglements in workplace politics just a couple of days ago?

Today, I had more opportunities to work my way through conflicts–and again, many that have a history that predates me by a long way. But rather than feeling overwhelmed by these entanglements, what really caught my attention today was this:

Since I am coming from the outside, with none of that history, I have  an opportunity to build bridges and mend fences more easily than many of my colleagues.

Which is what I started to do today.

I wrote a couple of emails. I had a couple of conversations. I made a few appointments.

Nothing worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, that’s for sure, but it was a start. And it was a start with noticeable results as well. Those bridges  and fences aren’t finished jobs by any means, but a good start is a good thing.

And I have to say, at the risk of an unnecessary ego boost, it felt good to know that I was doing my part to work beyond old conflicts and open up new ground for collaboration and compromise.