Posted by Brian McCullough
Many different personality types can be thrown together in one office or in one job setting. Because of this, you may find yourself experiencing some difficulties handling your co-workers. However, there are some strategies you can use when you find yourself in a situation with a co-worker where you are unsure of how to proceed.
Nosy Co-Workers
You have probably encountered a nosy co-worker who seems to want to pry into the personal details of your life. The fact is that every time this nosy employee comes over to pry, she is taking time away from your job and probably making you feel uncomfortable at work, too. The only way to handle this type of co-worker is to be direct. Clearly state that you are busy with work, and get straight back to work without waiting for comment. If the co-worker pushes, directly tell her that you like to keep your professional life separate from your family life and get back to work. A co-worker can’t argue with sensible statements and will get the message.
Competitive Co-Workers
Another type of co-worker you have probably had to deal with is the competitive co-worker who wants to make every job or project into a competition that she can win. This can be very stressful for you at work, so you need to know how to handle this situation. Make the conscience decision that you are not going to compete. This takes the pressure off of you and gets you out of the competitive mode, so you can concentrate on your job instead of on your co-worker. People with highly competitive natures will probably not respond well if you try to talk with them about the problem. Instead, work at your own pace to show your co-worker you aren’t interested in playing games. When your co-worker sees you won’t play, she’ll find a new target.
Hateful Co-Workers
You have probably also worked with a hateful co-worker who just seems mean. Working with this type of person can make you dread going to work every day because you can’t make this person happy. Work can be hard enough without adding a hateful co-worker to the mix, so you need to know how to handle a person like this. First, remind yourself that you can’t change other people, but you can change how you react to others. You decide how your day will be each morning, and then work to make sure no one else dictates your mood. Avoid people who are hateful at work, and spend your time and energy focusing on co-workers who want to be team players.
Knowing how to handle your co-workers can definitely help you deal with job related stress.
This post was contributed by Kelly Austin from Higher Salary. Visit her site for information on the average pharmacy technician salary and guides to other popular careers.
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