There is no organisation without difficult staffs but the ability to successfully deal with them makes you successful at everything.
Knowing when and how to deal with a difficult colleague is an important life skill because they are existing in all facets of life.
Types of difficult Colleagues
Complainers:They only see the negative side of situation without proffering solutions. They are capable of dampening the moral of the entire workforce if allowed. No matter how you try they cannot change, so the only way you handle them is to approach them and make them understand that when there ois complain, there should also be a solution. Ask them to advice on the way to resolving the issue.
The Know- it- All: I refer to them as “oversabi” [too-know]. They monopolise conversations and dismiss inputs from their colleagues. It has to be about them and nothing else matters.
I say: Befriend them, have them in your corner to be able to use them. Let them know how you feel on a friendly note, they may not even know they are doing disservice to you and the ORGANISATION.
Slackers: Thes ones don’t have anything to offer you but to slow you down. If you have a joint tasks, be sure that you will fail if you don’t take proactive steps over them.
Have a conversation with them, If they don’t improve, document and escalate to your superiors.
Achievement Robbers: They rob you of your achievement and take glory for what they did not do. They are abound so to protect yourself< document your achievements, do your regular reports showing this and they will back down.
Office Gossip:These are capable of ruining an organisation. They have the 411 on everybody and everything. Even when its true or a lie.
When they come to you, change the conversation except you are also an enabler. You must stop them before they make you an accomplice.
Jealous Colleagues: They exhibit their tendencies when you are either commended or promoted. They want to have everything. They cant hide it all the time because their body language will always give them away.
Limit your conversation with them, ignore them, pretend you didn’t even notice but be careful around them.
Mean and Annoying Colleagues: The only thing these set of colleagues do is to provoke you, they are disrespectful and will always do every thing to make you feel worthless in the office.
Set conversational boundaries for them, Create physical distance with them.
Be specific and confident when talking to them. Set your tone for conversation and be sure to turn down conversations you are not comfortable with. At no point should you get baited into unprofessional behaviour so you may want to document what transpired and escalate.
In all of these, you as an individual must appraise yourself to be sure you are in good standing. Do not accuse your colleagues falsely. Try to know their own perspectives to understand their position. Focus on positive relationships, not everyone is bad. Accept people’s personality and learn how to deal with them
Apart from your professional qualification, it is compulsory for staffs in today’s workplace to improve on their soft skills because they are personal habits and traits that will help you relate with other. It is mandatory to also undergo courses in Anger Management and Emotional intelligence. It will help you manoeuvre your way out of office crisis and manage conflicts.
Headliner Omolola