How To Deal With Difficult Co-Workers
We all have to deal with annoying co-workers but should we put up with their antics? In this article Natalie Wilson looks at some ways you can handle a situation with a bad teammate without having it affect your job too much.
You will, unfortunately, encounter difficult co-workers in almost every workplace throughout your career. However, how you deal with these difficult co-workers, bosses and even clients is something that is worth perfecting. When you successfully deal with a difficult situation at work, whilst it may be challenging, it is also extremely rewarding.
You can improve your own working environment and boost your morale when you learn how to deal with people at work. You can also help to make your workplace a much better environment for all employees once you address problems which a difficult co-worker who may be causing issues within the team. These tips will not only help increase your skills when dealing with difficult situations and people in your work environment, but they will also have a positive effect on your personal life, too.
Difficult co-workers come in many different varieties, but how difficult that person is to deal with depends on a lot of different factors, such as your self-esteem, how closely you work together and your self-confidence.
Dealing with difficult co-workers is easier when that person is generally like that or if they are affecting more than one person within your working environment. This way, you can team together to address the situation or inform your management team to get help with addressing the issue. It can be harder to deal with if the person is undermining you in front of others or personally attacking you.
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Why You Must Deal With Difficult People At Work
The situation you are in will not get better if you leave it. Unaddressed, the conflict will just sit and simmer and will potentially erupt during work time which will make the situation worse, so you must think of the best way that you can address the difficult person rationally.
Usually, people go into shock if they are treated with a lack of respect or unprofessionally, so take some time to understand exactly what you are going through. Once you have fully come to terms with what is going on, living with the situation in the long run is not a viable option. It will build up to the point that you are dreading going to work or are actually unwell from the thought of going to work in the morning.
You may even become angry and upset, which is completely understandable if your efforts to control the situation become irrational. It is much better for your work life and your health to address the difficult people so that you can maintain some objectivity and emotional control within the situation. If confrontation becomes a non-viable option, then it may be best to just step back and accept that nothing good is going to come from this situation or confronting the difficult behaviour.
Bullying At Work
If you frequently feel intimidated or dread going to work because of a specific individual or group, then this counts as workplace bullying. If you are yelled at, insulted or frequently put down, then this is bullying behaviour.
It can often be subtle behaviour in front of others that hurts the most. Things such as co-workers talking over you at meetings or being regularly criticised in front of others by your managers can make you feel worthless at work. Confronting these bullies, either directly or by involving a more senior member of staff, can help the situation. However, depending on the level of bullying which is occurring, human resources or even a work dispute resolution lawyers may need to be involved to sort the situation out once and for all, especially if your situation involves your manager.
Tackling Annoying Issues and Habits
If you work with a co-worker who has an annoying habit, such as loud chewing or bringing their personal issues into work, then it can often feel unbearable when you work close by. These kinds of behaviours can affect your work and even your mood. If you want to maintain happiness in your workplace, then these issues must be addressed.
If there is a co-worker with personal hygiene issues or if they often smell strongly of coffee or alcohol, then this is a more pressing issue and one which may need to be dealt with more seriously. You should approach the situation thoughtfully and speak to a manager about the best way that you can tackle it. They may wish to take your co-worker to one side and have a private chat.
However you decide to deal with your annoying co-workers it must be done with diplomacy and tact – after all you will need to work with this person in the future and you do not want to create a hostile environment for you, your co-worker or other people in your office.
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