Bad coworkers can also make good employees quit. If we have to deal with bad coworkers, how do we deal with them? Find the answer in this article.
If you don’t work alone at home, or don’t work and have money deposited into your account where the work starts and ends with you, then you must have had a story about having coworkers who make it difficult for you to work. For example, a friend who is never on time, a friend who borrows pens or other things and never returns them, or a friend who is always rude to you. Even though some behaviors are something you say you can tolerate, if they become a regular occurrence, these bad behaviors are not something you should have to tolerate, right?
“Coworkers can be the reason an employee quits.”
Research has shown that abusive coworkers can lead you to leave your company, or worse, their abusiveness can push you out of the company while you remain at your desk. So, it’s not just the work you have to deal with on a daily basis, but also your coworkers. To keep your relationship on the right track, remember that throwing tantrums and tantrums never helps, and can actually hurt your career.
Why You Need to Know How to Deal with These Bad Coworkers
Knowing how to deal with difficult coworkers who may turn mean to you is an important life skill. Even if you have feelings for many of the people at work, this skill will help you survive difficult situations that you might not expect.
“Dealing with bad coworkers is a weapon of your own.”
Conflict management skills are like telling you to carry a weapon, not telling you to use it right away, but to draw it out when needed or use it wisely, and you must not use it to hurt others either. When you start learning to accept or confront the behavior of those around you, you will learn to care more about yourself and those who are good to you.
“Take a moment to check your feelings.”
Before you risk getting yourself into a conflict, take a moment to examine your feelings toward the person who is bothering you. Ask yourself why they can make you feel so bad, bother you, or cause you so much negative emotions. People tend not to like people who remind them of past traumas or versions of themselves that they don’t like. If you can answer why the person around you is the cause of your negative feelings, you may be able to relieve your frustration without having to throw yourself into a conflict.
Types of Bad Coworkers
There are many creative ways and strategies that can help you deal with those difficult coworkers, but you need to first identify what type of coworker they are to you.
1. The slothful ones
This type of coworker is considered lazy. They are there to get the job done without any concern for quality or praise. They are the type of employees who will succeed the most in things because they are often slow. Even though they are on time, they are not motivated to do better or faster. They are especially frustrated if all your work depends on them.
2. Complainers
We all need to let out some air at times when we are physically or mentally exhausted. But you might need to let out some air when your coworker just won’t stop complaining. This type of coworker tends to dwell on the same old problems without trying to find a solution. At first, you might not think it is that serious, but when you have to deal with a complaining friend until it becomes a habit, you will start to reject this coworker. And you may not be able to stand it when you become the subject of his complaints.
3. Those who want to be the center of attention
Although many people say that they don’t like being the center of attention, some people love being the stars at work. They try to be the center of attention and try to stand out. But the bad thing is that they don’t try to stand out by working, but they try to do other things that don’t benefit anyone or their work. Usually, this behavior is done to hide their insecurities or insecurity.
4. Those who are good at everything.
You may have a colleague or team member who acts like a wise man. They act like they know it all, they think they are the masters of everything. They are always talking loudly in meetings, they are self-centered and intolerant of criticism from others, and they make reckless decisions because they think they know it all. The worst part is that these people have a hobby of controlling other people’s thoughts.
5. Gossipers
There is a lot of gossip or gossip in the workplace. As the old saying goes, no one is immune to gossip. But sometimes gossip can be more than work-related. These coworkers like to gossip about people behind others’ backs, spread rumors that have not been proven true or not, and are not interested in finding the truth in the matter. What they want to do is to pass on that false information. The more they pass on, the happier they are. This behavior leads to contempt and baseless gossip in the workplace.
How to Deal with Different Types of Bad Coworkers
Now that you’ve identified the types of coworkers you’re dealing with, it’s time to deal with them in a way that’s understandable. While you can’t stop them from being mean, you can at least avoid or prevent them from being mean to you with these 12 methods.
1. Learn to speak up : If your coworkers are making you feel uncomfortable or uneasy at work, it may be time to confront the source of your discomfort. Tell them how you feel so they understand your perspective better. Your words, language, or actions will determine whether or not they will be held accountable for their actions.
2. Get to know other people’s perspectives : Sometimes, trying to see things from other people’s perspectives can help you get along with your coworkers more easily. After getting to know them, you may realize what their backgrounds and life experiences are, and how those have shaped their behaviors and perspectives today. While you deserve to be treated with respect, understanding other people’s perspectives can help you understand how to get along with them more easily.
3. Focus on positive relationships: Instead of dwelling on the same coworker who radiates negative energy or causes you to have negative thoughts, shift your focus to other coworkers who can provide you with positive energy, a pleasant conversation, or someone who can lift your spirits. On days when you’re feeling down, ask your favorite coworker to do something fun with you to unwind and bond.
4. Talk to your manager : When certain employees start to violate company policies and negatively impact your work responsibilities, it may be time to report the problem to your manager or HR. Keep a record of the coworker’s negative behavior to ensure you have evidence of his or her actions.
5. Accept other people’s personalities : You may find that a coworker has done nothing wrong, but you just don’t like their personality. They may not like how they talk, how they look, or even how they walk. These are normal things when you don’t like someone. When you find someone you like and someone you want to avoid, learn to accept that you have to get along with everyone, whether you like them or not. Try to find something you like about their personality. You may not like how they talk, but you like how they present in front of the entire department. Look for the good in them.
6. Stay neutral : If another coworker is talking about someone in a very informal way, the conversation is full of things you’ve seen, heard, or never seen before, and you don’t even know if they’re true or not. Trying to stay neutral is the best way to maintain a positive work environment for everyone.
7. Limit interactions : Limiting the amount of time you spend with coworkers can help you handle situations better. You may find that you’re able to handle them better when you have less time with an awkward coworker. At lunch or in meetings, consistently try to be with coworkers who you find kind and supportive. Be more mindful of how they’re feeling than the coworker who makes you uncomfortable.
8. Improve yourself : Even if your coworker is acting unprofessionally, you need to develop the skill of self-improvement. Constantly try to treat others with kindness and respect. Just because someone is being unkind to you doesn’t mean you have to be mean to them back. If you stay silent and let them go, you will show your maturity in this situation. It is best to handle these conflicts yourself rather than involving other coworkers.
9. Know your triggers : Notice which behaviors of your coworkers are most challenging to your emotions and feelings. If they start to engage in those behaviors, remove yourself from the situation immediately. Doing this can help you stay calm and focus on putting all your energy into the work.
10. Focus on the positive : While it may seem easy to focus on other coworkers who are nice to you, ignoring coworkers who constantly irritate you can be even harder. Think of your work or the benefits of your job as gratitude for the good in your life, not the negative energy they bring to you.
11. Reflect on your own actions : As you think about an irritating coworker, reflect on how you’ve treated them. You may find that you both act in a similar way, creating a feedback loop of behavior. If you want to break the cycle, try treating them with kindness to create a change. You may even create a new loop where they try to return the favor.
12. Show empathy : Everyone has their own issues to deal with, and this sentence alone can explain all the misunderstandings you may have about a coworker’s behavior. If you try to show empathy to others, get to know them better, and see them from their perspective, you may find that if you were in their shoes, you might choose to do the same thing.
Conclusion
We, the office workers, spend a lot of time each day at work. We interact with our colleagues more than our family at home, if we do not include our sleeping time. Therefore, it is undeniable that the workplace and colleagues affect all employees. When we have to live with people who are not our own choice, we will definitely encounter many differences, whether it is in terms of habits, culture, thoughts, things that have been instilled, or experiences. Each person has a different path to gaining things, so it is not strange that the expressions or behaviors of many colleagues make you feel misunderstood or dissatisfied.
However, as long as you are not the president of the company, you cannot choose your coworkers or the people you want to work with. What you can do is to accept the differences, learn from them, and find a way to get along with them without getting in trouble or being taken advantage of. If you are uncomfortable with your coworkers, try to identify what kind of coworkers they are and what methods you can use to manage them.
“Being able to work with anyone is a professional quality.”
Reference:
How to deal with difficult coworkers: Tips and examples
12 Ways to Deal With a Difficult Co-Worker
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