How to Deal with Difficult People at Work

No matter where you work or what industry you work in, there’s a good chance you’ll someday have to work with people you don't like.

It could be as simple as having to share a cubicle with someone who doesn't respect boundaries or your privacy, or maybe it means dealing with someone who never gets things done on time. The truth is we’re not always going to get along and become friends with our co-workers. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t learn to work within a negative environment.

Take some time to follow these tips for dealing with difficult co-workers. Once you begin implementing them you’ll find that it gets easier.

1. Remember: You’re not the Boss

If you don’t have authority over the other person, you’re going to look very unprofessional if you start telling them how to do their #job. If your coworker is lazy or does a poor job and you’re tempted to correct their mistakes, don’t expect to be thanked for it. And don’t be surprised if they’re stubborn about your good-natured advice either.

Lead by example and focus on doing your own work successfully.

2. Avoid Communication through Email

When dealing with someone who’s difficult, try making it a priority to handle things on the phone or face to face. If you’re concerned about coming across well, remember your tone of voice cannot be heard in an email.

If you have to #communicate via email, try reading your emails out loud before sending them. Without tone or facial expressions to help you out, you may come off as being upset or abrupt. Though you might love nothing more than to avoid the person, make sure poor or misinterpreted communication doesn’t exacerbate your issues.

3. Avoid Gossip

When someone at #work is difficult, it seems natural to gossip about him or her, but don’t do it. If you must vent your frustrations or get another opinion, wait until you get home.

Avoid office drama by not participating in gossip. Not only do many offices have strict policies about gossip, you never know who might be listening. Be friendly and make sure you always take the moral high road.

4. Let Go of Your Anger

When you’re dealing with a difficult person, it’s easy to get angry. You think of the time they have wasted, the things they have done, and before you know it, you might have your teeth clenched.

Remember anger is an energy drain. The more time you spend being angry, the less time you have to spend on important things. Take time to release your anger and turn it towards more productive things.

5. Keep a list

If your coworker’s problems start to affect your work performance, start keeping a list of all the problems that arise. It can help you establish a paper trail should it be necessary later.

Keep a list, date it, and if necessary, show it to your boss in a formal complaint. Doing this will give you evidence in the event that your coworker disputes your complaint.

We all have coworkers whom we’d rather not work with. Unfortunately, we don’t tend to have any control over who works with us. Instead of wasting your time and energy stressing over those annoying people in your life, just get the job done while keeping problems to a minimum. Focusing on your own job, along with carrying out the actions mentioned above, will save you your sanity in the long run.

Get a copy of "Career Affirmations" from our shop to start building a positive mind for your career today.

About: Careerspresso was created to help women re-enter the workforce after extended breaks in employment for any reason. Learn how to get a raise, get a promotion and become the obvious choice for every opportunity. Follow to stay up on the latest and greatest in career coaching.

Affiliate note: The content on this website may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. This means we earn money from brands when readers click through, purchase, or sign up for anything through certain links, such as Mint Mobile, and Rakuten cashback app for shopping online.