When it comes to your working life, things are not going to run smoothly all of the time. Dealing with difficult coworkers is a fact that you’re going to have to deal with at some point or another and when you do, you’re going to want to have all the tools at your fingertips. Getting along with people that you normally wouldn’t is all about adapting your perspective and modifying your method of communication. Your working life doesn’t have to be difficult; it’s all about how you approach it.
- Refuse To Be Competitive
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At some point or another, you’re going to come face to face with someone who sees competition as a sport. While a dose of competition can be healthy when you’re trying to get something done, too much can lead to conflict and unhappiness. If you’re trying to deal with someone who takes competition too far, refuse to get involved. By failing to take the bait, you will diffuse the situation and make the competition null and void. It’s ok to test one another but when it’s having a negative effect on your working life, simply refuse to play along.
- Avoid Office Gossip
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Gossip in the office spreads like wildfire and no matter how hard you try to stay out of it, you’re probably going to become caught up in it at some point or another. Whether you’re in the circle at your own will or not, getting caught up in petty gossip is only going to harm your performance at work and make it harder to get more done. You need to make a stand. When it comes to office gossip, be clear and direct that you don’t want to be included. There’s no need to be rude but by clearly stating your feelings, you can avoid a lot of trouble.
- Be Clear With Your Communication
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If you’re dealing with a non-responsive colleague, it can feel very hard to get anything done. Waiting to hear back from enquiries that you sent out weeks ago can push your schedule back and make it all the more difficult for you to get going. You’re going to need to take an active stance. Ensure that all of your emails and requests come with explicit instructions and clear purposes. If you give the person a deadline within which they need to respond, they’re going to be much more likely to put it at the top of their priority list.
- Keep The Conversation Positive
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Dealing with someone that complains 24/7 is not fun. Getting dragged down by someone else’s negative emotions can have a huge effect on your ability to focus and maintain composure in the office. Try changing your perspective. When your coworker gets too caught up in negative ideas, switch the way you see the scenario. Highlighting the positives of the situation can make it a lot more easy to deal with and lead to a happier, more productive team!
- Make Sure Everyone Knows Their Role
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Team projects are a great way of getting to know your colleagues more closely but there is always going to be someone who tries to do less work than the rest of the team. To ensure that everyone gets a fair share of the load, try outlining an email of each person’s task to your group and copying your boss into the message. That way, if things don’t get done, your boss has a clear idea of who has and hasn’t been pulling their weight.
