The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre famously said, “Hell is other people,” and no place feels quite so hellish as a workplace with a difficult colleague.
Dealing with such colleagues can affect our moods, productivity, and even our physical and mental health. But since they are everywhere, quitting isn’t the answer. It just means you’ll have to get used to a similar colleague in another job.
So how do you deal with these challenging co-workers?
Here are four types of colleagues who populate our work spaces – and tips for keeping your temper low and your tolerance levels high when they are in your midst:
- The Boss’ BFF: He copies the boss on almost every email he sends you, and most of his conversations start with, “The boss and I …” He wants you to know that he and the boss talk regularly about a whole range of topics. You might want to check in with the boss to see if this is a directive that must be followed. Perhaps you, your colleague and your boss can meet together to set some ground rules about what makes sense to copy widely.
- The Gossip: Not only does this colleague seem to rule the grapevine, he is so eager to tell you what he knows that he won’t leave your work space until he has shared. A direct and professional approach might serve you best. Find a quiet place to meet and express your discomfort about the gossip, and seek agreement that gossip damages the team and trust.
- The Delegator: Even though you are equals in the organization, somehow the delegator ends up passing off her work on you. If you do that work, you will forever be doomed to doing more of the same. Although it may seem like passing off work, if the delegator is your direct supervisor, extra tasks could be a signal that you are being developed for a larger role. If it is a colleague, rather than escalate, stop the delegation in its tracks with a clarifying conversation about the purpose of taking on work that seems outside your purview. Perhaps your skills set is needed.
- The Know-It-All: She knows everything – or likes to think so. But you know a lot, too. Do your homework, have your facts and be assertive. Perhaps she’s been here longer, so she has more experience. That may be true, but you also have expertise to share. Demonstrate a spirit of openness and sharing. You might get a lot of teamwork in return. Dealing with difficult people takes some patience, professional maturity and even a sense of humor. Bring your collegiality and you have a path toward making difficult people a lot easier to work with.
Sherri Sacks is a Career Coach for the JCS Career Center. The JCS Career Center offers comprehensive employment services to help job seekers of all abilities and skill levels find and maintain employment or change their career. Services include career coaching, career assessments, resumes, interview preparation, and connections to employers who are hiring. For more information, call 410-466-9200 or visit jcsbaltimore.org.
Is it too late to save Towson Town Center, wonders Michael Olesker.
Commemorations of the Holocaust must transcend the past to include concerns about the present and future, writes Menachem Z. Rosensaft.
Someone needed to tell Donald Trump that his appearance at a UFC fight over the weekend was not a good look, writes Michael Olesker.
Journalists bear a responsibility to go beyond the headlines and social media posts to understand the past and present, writes New York University student Lucia Alonso.