You may not have your cubicle assaulted by Somali pirates, but violence is still an issue that arises in plenty of workplaces. And even one incidence of violence in the workplace is one too many.

This is not the kind of thing that we can ignore. Most people who have been violent have made threats beforehand. Ignoring it and hoping it will go away — not a good strategy. Are you pooh-poohing it? Cutting someone slack? Being understanding? Maybe that’s not what the situation demands.

And are you pretending you don’t have feelings about it — whether fears or anger? Because if you find yourself tolerating behavior that’s clearly out of bounds, you could be fueling a high stress level in yourself, setting yourself up for your own performance problems and endangering yourself and your co-workers.

So, if denial doesn’t work, what does? What power do you have in a situation that’s starting to make you feel a little uneasy?

It starts with awareness. And it takes follow-through. As I urge in my book Stop Pissing Me Off, if someone threatens you, take it seriously. Let your supervisor or human resources department know immediately. And be aware of the warning signs, because there are plenty of them, including:

1. Direct and indirect threats
2. Mood swings, depression, bizarre statements, delusions of persecution
3. Physical or romantic obsessions
4. Trouble with alcohol or drug addiction
5. Self-destructive behavior
6. Loner behavior or self-isolation
7. Unkempt physical appearance, despair or sluggish decision-making
8. Accepting no responsibility for one’s own actions
9. Constant blaming of others
10. Poor impulse control
11. Ownership of a gun or a gun collection, combined with anti-social behavior
12. Fascination with shooting skills or other weapons activity
13. Domestic violence, verbal abuse or anti-social activities
14. Irritability, aggressiveness, involvement in disputes or fights with others
15. Theft or destruction of property with little remorse.

If you’re a supervisor or a manager, you have additional responsibilities for recognizing and addressing these warning signs.

Don’t let violence in the workplace take you by surprise and don’t make it worse by “letting well enough alone.” Engagement is your first defense and it’s important to know when conflict can drive productivity and when it’s gone awry. You might just save yourself and other people a lot of trouble. Take the initiative on this one. It’s important to act right away, if you suspect the threat of violence exists in your workplace.