At some point in your career, you might have met or will meet a difficult co-worker. Getting along with this person is essential for honing your conflict resolution skills and learning to overcome adversity.
You can’t always choose to run, ignore or give that difficult (MTN 3829 8371 8890 28468) co-worker ‘gbas for gbos’. Learning to get along and resolve the issue will help develop your ability to work in a more harmonious environment, work effectively with a team or handle difficult situations and clients.
Here are 7 ways in which you can handle a difficult co-worker:
1. Check that you are not at fault
It is easy to jump to conclusions and blame that co-worker for acting awfully. But first, find out what fueled it. What did you do wrong to have warranted that kind of behaviour? It’s okay to say, that their reaction to your mistakes could have been better, but not making those mistakes in the first place, would solve most of the problems.
2. Change how you react
Some co-workers are just difficult, whether you are at fault or not. Try changing the way you react to their outburst. Choose to be nicer, understanding of their feelings and explain yourself in a calmer voice.
3. Do not respond immediately
When a provocative word is thrown at you, take a deep breath, walk away if you can, the bottom line is to take a moment to collect your thoughts before reacting, so that you match their provocative nature with the worst version.
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4. Get to know your co-worker
Sometimes, the behaviour of this co-worker is from something going on at home or lifestyle. Knowing them better will help you understand why they do what they do and will help guide how you operate around them.
5. Keep interactions to the minimum
When number 4 doesn’t work, limit your interactions to work-related issues. Do not try to be close and do not give them a chance to bond or know more about you. Hang out with others that keeps your spirit lifted.
6. Let him/her know how you feel
Let that co-worker know how their choice of words or behaviour affects you. Do not say it in a way that insinuates that they do not know how to talk, but say from the perspective of how it makes you feel. It doesn’t mean you are weak, it just shows that you want a change.
7. Talk to your supervisor
There are two ways to do this…you can either ask your supervisor for advice on the matter or prepare a complaint against that difficult co-worker. Document their every abuse, so that you have a case against them and present it.
Have you ever had to work with a difficult co-worker? How did you handle it?
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