No matter where you’re working, there always seems to be at least one co-worker who is difficult to deal with.
It’s quite common to not get along with everyone you meet. Sometimes in situations like this, it can even take a wrong turn and they can end up bullying you.
This may affect your job performance and self-esteem during work. When deep down inside all you want to do is get along with them and get your job done.
Do not worry! As we have some tips on how to deal with difficult co-workers in your office. Here are some ways you can get along or defuse the situation to make life easier on the job.
Firstly, you have to realize you can’t change your co-worker. Accept your differences and focus on the tasks/jobs you are assigned.
Recognize that getting along with your co-worker is not about being liked, but it is about understanding yourself and others. It starts with you.
In order to build positive working relations, you have to always be ethical and honest on your strong moral principles. Don’t change yourself to make others happy.
Look for the positive qualities in your co-worker, most people have a mix of good and bad qualities. You may even be able to find something you see in your co-worker that you dislike about yourself.
Try to spend more time with your co-worker to really get to know him or her well, maybe you don’t spend enough time with your peers to appreciate his good qualities.
It will be easier to build bridges, if you assume positive intentions rather than the negative.
Besides that, you can try to build trust between you and your co-worker. Try discussing the issue with him/her. Take the initiative to invite them to lunch and let them know what’s been bothering you.
You may be surprised, sometimes they are not aware of it. However, you need to be prepared to receive the same feedback from him/her. Maybe you too did something that put your co-worker on their heels.
Be prepared to make amends and start off fresh.
Clear communication is very crucial in the workplace. In a world of work like today, emails and text messages is often the fastest and simplest way of communication between co-workers.
However, things can be taken wrongly if you’re not careful communicating through electronic communications. When dealing with a difficult co-worker, don’t be afraid to take the conversation offline and have a talk in person.
This way you can avoid misinterpretations of intent, tone, and meaning.
All in all, don’t take it personally. If your co-worker is difficult to work with, try avoiding them. If that’s not possible try to minimize your interactions as much as possible.
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