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Do You Have Toxic Coworkers?A common complaint in the workforce today is that some coworkers are really tough to deal with and make our jobs more challenging. A typical office environment throws together people of all walks of life and personality types. This can lead to frustrations or more serious problems. Most offices include at least one person who is especially annoying. You know the types — the pessimist, the gossiper, the best friend — and chances are, you have one in your midst right now. So what can you do when a toxic coworker approaches you, ready to annoy? Try these tactics for handling common office personalities… The Negative NellyToxic: It seems that everything that comes out of his mouth is negative. This Negative Nelly has a pessimistic view of the world. He always points out the negative in meetings and complains when anything changes. He draws you into his negativity and this affects your productivity and happiness. Solution: Try to be sympathetic and realize that lots of things may be causing his negativity. He may have personal problems, job insecurity or health issues. Try having a frank talk with him and ask if you can help ease the stress. And lead by example — head off negative conversations by being positive. Acknowledge a negative comment, but try to finish with something positive. The Gossip HoundToxic: You see that look in her eye and know she's got the dish on someone — the latest office romance, details on a recent firing or rumors about the manager's salary. Whatever the scoop, you don't want to hear it. This Gossip Hound makes you uncomfortable and you're sure she's dishing about you behind your back. Solution: You may think you're safe by politely listening, but that only encourages the Gossip Hound. It's best to head this one off right from the start. When she heads toward you, ready to gossip in a hushed tone, it's time to act busy. Pick up the phone, stare at your computer screen or act distracted. You can also come right out and say "I'm sorry but I need to finish this right now." She'll get the message and will avoid gossiping to you in the future. The Clingy Best FriendToxic: He's always asking you to lunch or happy hour and seems insulted when you decline. He insists on giving you the dirty details of his weekend, doctor visits, relationships and more. No conversation topic is off limits and this is compromising your work relationship. You're finding it difficult to respect him. It can also cause problems with delegation and in meetings. Solution: Try to steer your conversations with the Clingy Best Friend in the direction of work topics or neutral personal topics. Don't answer his inappropriate questions. If he doesn't take the hint and continues with his behavior, pull him aside and tell him honestly how you feel. Explain that under different circumstances, you two could be the best of friends, but you feel it's not appropriate for your particular work situation. The Know It AllToxic: She has an answer for every conversation. It seems that each time she begins to talk, you tune out because she talks for what seems like hours. She never offers a simple answer. She knows everything and isn't afraid to tell you all about it. She drags out meetings and always has to share. This constant input is affecting your productivity, not to mention blurring fact with fiction. Solution: Try to sort through the mounds of conversation by really listening to the person. Ask specific close-ended questions. She may be talking to get attention or may actually be trying to share past experiences — some people are simply poor verbal communicators. If you still believe she's talking too much, try another form of communication such as email. You may be able to quickly get the information you need by using another communication tool. A general survival tactic for handling toxic coworkers is to ignore their inappropriate behavior and not encourage it. You may have to sacrifice a few office friendships in order to keep your distance but if you're feeling uncomfortable, something must change. Soon enough you'll find a workable happy medium. |
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