Whether your colleagues are always talking, always on their phone, or just always in your way, they can make your workday longer and harder.
Do you have a coworker who is always talking? Or one who is always asking for favors? Maybe you have a coworker who is always trying to be the boss. Whatever the case may be, we all have that one coworker who is just plain annoying. If you're lucky, you can just avoid that person. But sometimes, you have to work with them on projects or tasks. And that can be torture.
But if you happen to already be in that situation where a colleague is getting on your nerves, you may want to think about a couple of things. First, it’s important to stay polite, whatever happens. Even if they are driving you crazy, it's important to be polite. Just bite your tongue and try to get through the interaction. In this way, you’ll make sure they don’t ruin your reputation.
A second useful tip is not getting drawn into their drama. If they are always complaining or starting arguments, just walk away. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Setting boundaries is also crucial when dealing with annoying coworkers. If they are always asking for favors, make it clear that you're not going to do everything they ask. Set some limits so that you don't end up doing all the work. You may also want to make sure you keep your distance. Remember that you don't have to be best friends with this person. Just keep your interactions to a minimum and whenever they’re needed.
If you feel like you're stuck in the corner and there’s not much to be done, the only option may be to talk to your boss or manager. They may be able to help you resolve the issue.
And after all, every workplace has its quirks: whether it’s the workings of the company, the flawed management or the people you have to work with, no work is perfect. Dealing with annoying coworkers may be tiring, to say the least, but in the end, it’s part of life.
Meanwhile, according to Christine Mitterbauer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach and serial entrepreneur, “it’s important that you stand your ground and don’t let yourself be intimidated by difficult coworkers, whether they’re negative, talking down to you, or making your work difficult in any other way.”
“Of course, you can try to interact as little as possible with the coworker, but that isn’t always possible,” the career coach added. Moreover, a great skill to practice is becoming better at having difficult conversations, she told us in an earlier interview.
“Stick to negative behavior as that’s more objective and can more easily be verified by everyone involved. Practice exactly what you want to say beforehand, and consider getting other allies on board as well. Sometimes it is necessary to involve management, but it’s often better to only do this once you can demonstrate to the manager what you yourself have attempted to tackle the issue,” the career coach explained.
