Much attention was given to the 89th Academy Awards when it aired last Sunday, especially due to the Best Picture blunder or what is now being called as "Envelopegate." But there was another scene during the night which was equally talked about—Brie Larson's refusal to applaud for Best Actor Casey Affleck's victory.
Brie Larson, who is an advocate for sexual assault survivors, refused to applaud Casey Affleck, a man subject with multiple sexual assault allegations, for his Best Actor win after she presented the award to him. Larson's silent but professional protest teaches us a thing or two about how to handle people we dislike at work.
Stay professional.
Larson handed Affleck a Best Actor award two times during the award season. Once during the Golden Globes and another during the Academy Awards.
On both occasions, she did not cause a fuss by refusing to hand over the statuettes to Affleck, or making inappropriate facial expressions on stage. Instead, she gave Affleck his award, moved to the side of the stage, and kept a straight, impassive countenance all throughout the experience.
If a handshake or a hug is required, you can do it the same way Brie did. Keep it short and impersonal.
So glad Brie Larson found a way to be professional but keep her distance from having to reward Casey Affleck at the Golden Globes. pic.twitter.com/9dTYYxrXe7
— Priyant Pratap (@Priyant1987) January 9, 2017
Similarly, when we ourselves are thrust into a situation wherein we have to somehow work with a colleague or a superior that we dislike, we can make our silent protest known. By keeping the interaction strictly professional, refusing to stray to personal topics, and not showing the wrong idea such as appearing to have a pleasant time. Neither should we appear to be having a horrible time too. You're there to do the job. That's all. But it is vital that we have our poker faces on.
Stick to your convictions.
Just because you have to work with someone you hate does not mean you have to abandon your principles or forget the reasons why you dislike him or her in the first place. You do not have to tell yourself, "Alright. For the next few weeks, I'll have to pretend I like him. I'll have to forget everything's he's done, all his flaws."
Instead, you can actually use that opportunity to let him or her know that you do not like certain qualities about them. Is she constantly tardy and lazy on the job? Give her more work and emphasize the repercussions if she does not deliver. If he or she is your boss, you may not be able to do that, but at least you can deliver a message, one that says "I do not like you, but I'm not going to let you get to me." Your silence will be more unnerving than your vocal protest.
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