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May 11, 2015 · 3. Be diplomatic. “Be patient and gentle with your words; rehearse them if necessary.”. 4. Remain calm. Be a role model of professionalism. “You want your approach to work, and you can’t keep badgering your office mate, so be strategic the first time,” Taylor says. 5. Have a cool-down period.
Having studied conflict management and resolution over the past several years, the author outlines seven principles to help you work more effectively with difficult colleagues: (1) Understand...
- Determine the Degree and Type of Incompetent Coworker. The first step to dealing with this coworker is to accurately assess the degree and type of their incompetence.
- Embrace Individual Responsibility. In a team, each member carries individual responsibilities aligned with the larger organizational goals. It’s essential to uphold this accountability, especially when encountering blundering coworkers.
- Set Boundaries. Setting boundaries with your incompetent coworkers is crucial to maintaining your productivity and mental well-being in the workplace.
- Maintain Professionalism. Maintaining professionalism can be a formidable task in the face of incompetent colleagues. However, it’s a critical aspect of navigating such situations in the workplace.
Nov 14, 2023 · 1. Limit your time with them. The easiest way to avoid drama is simply to avoid them when you can. Stay away from difficult coworkers if you don’t have to work with them directly. By limiting your interactions, you’ll also reduce the amount of frustration you feel when dealing with them.
- Overview
- Limit your time with the
- Learn to let it g
- Maintain a cheerful attitud
- Treat everyone with respec
- Ask for your coworker’s advic
- Identify the behaviors that upset yo
- Get to know your coworke
- Reflect on your behavio
- Address the issue respectfull
Having good working relationships with your coworkers is important since you spend so much time there. Unfortunately, some coworkers can be rude, unprofessional, or just plain toxic. It’s easy to get stressed and struggle with productivity when you’re juggling a bad work relationship, but thankfully, there are ways to improve the situation. Read on for a list of ways to help you effectively deal with a difficult coworker—making your job much more enjoyable in the process!
Stay away from your difficult coworker as much as you can. Identify your triggers so you can leave if they start acting out.
Get to know your coworker so you can understand why they act the way they do and empathize with their perspective.
Talk to them in private if you need their behavior to change. Be respectful and use “I” language to communicate your feelings and needs to them.
The easiest way to avoid drama is simply to avoid them when you can.
Stay away from difficult coworkers if you don't have to work with them directly. By limiting your interactions, you’ll also reduce the amount of frustration you feel when dealing with them. When you do need to speak with them, keep the discussion brief but pleasant. Be professional instead of giving the person the cold shoulder.
Instead of taking their behavior personally, ignore it and move on.
Depending on the situation, it’s healthiest to
let go of your anger
when a colleague acts out. Their bad behavior isn’t your fault—and so long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, it’s not your problem, either. Letting difficult behavior slide right off your shoulders is often the easiest way to deal with it.
Consider the possibility that your coworker didn’t intend to upset you. They may not even realize they’ve done something you don’t like.
You’re more than justified in confronting a coworker’s difficult behavior when they’re interfering with you and your work performance, but more often than not, it’s not personal.
Combat a coworker’s negativity with your own optimistic perspective.
Does your coworker seem to complain constantly? If you’re faced with a lot of negativity at work,
in response. Your coworker will get the hint when if you subtly change the topic or offer a contrasting positive point of view. Without someone to fuel their negativity, they’ll get bored and move on.
If they don’t get the hint, let them know how you feel about their negativity. Everyone has different ways of venting frustration, and they may not have any idea how their attitude affects you.
Try not to complain unnecessarily yourself, either. It’s hard to get along with a whiny colleague, and sinking to your coworker’s level won’t make them stop.
Protect your own positivity from pessimistic co-workers.
Take the high road and show this coworker that you’re more mature.
If you’re dealing with jealous or overly competitive coworkers, getting them to work with you can be as simple as acknowledging the role they play on your team.
Show respect to all of your coworkers
, praise the whole team's achievements and show them that you value their input. You can be a role model of good workplace behavior!
If your coworker is a know-it-all, asking for advice might appease them.
Does your coworker act like they know everything and refuse to listen to your opinions? Instead of arguing, try acknowledging their ideas and asking them to explain further. When difficult coworkers feel like their ideas are seen and valued, they might be more open to your ideas and listen to you in turn.
It’s easier to get out of stressful situations when you know your triggers.
What about your coworker do you find difficult? Reflect on your interactions with them to figure out exactly what rubbed you the wrong way. Then, when you see them start to act that way in the future, excuse yourself before they get under your skin. This way, you’ll be calmer and less stressed at work overall.
Try developing a few other coping mechanisms to help you deal with negative interactions, too.
For example, you might practice deep breathing or meditation, or step away and take a walk or exercise when you feel upset.
Understanding and empathizing with them makes it easier to get along.
, you’ll also gain insight into why they behave the way they do. They might be overworked, going through a rough time, or dealing with an unreasonable customer.
You deserve to be treated respectfully regardless, but your relationship may improve when you can empathize with their situation.
You might even realize that your coworker has insecurities about their own job performance or feels jealous of your success.
Consider why you dislike this coworker to ensure you’re being fair.
Are you upset because of things that this specific person has done, or are you holding a grudge because they remind you of someone else you don’t like?
It’s easy to get annoyed if someone brings up bad memories, but understanding your own feelings can help you let go of unnecessary anger.
Don’t expect your coworker to work the same way you do, either. Consider what you expect them to do before assuming they're being difficult. You might find that your demands have been a little unrealistic.
Getting an explanation for their actions may clarify the situation.
If you're having a problem with a coworker who you really do need to work with, try talking to them privately about the issue.
what the problem is, listen to their explanation and side of the story, and let them offer solutions for resolving the problem in addition to making suggestions of your own.
Reference the specific issue at hand instead of making it about your coworker as a person.
For example, instead of saying, "Get your act together, or we're going to miss our deadline," say, "I'd like to talk to you about what we can do to get that project you're working on finished sooner."
Getting an explanation might even reveal that your coworker has personal issues you don’t know about. You might find that you understand them better after talking.
Feb 8, 2024 · How to deal with specific issues. The following are specific types of difficult work situations and how to handle them: Stolen credit: Assess the severity of the situation calmly and talk it over with your colleague. If the situation progresses, talk to your boss or the HR department.
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Oct 11, 2017 · But there are seven key phrases you can use, tailored to specific situations. You can keep them in your back pocket for when these kinds of moments happen, route your response with them, and...
