{"id":5340,"date":"2014-03-11T10:47:33","date_gmt":"2014-03-11T10:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=5340"},"modified":"2014-03-11T10:49:13","modified_gmt":"2014-03-11T10:49:13","slug":"how-to-deal-with-difficult-coworkers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/03\/how-to-deal-with-difficult-coworkers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to deal with difficult coworkers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"black-people-office\"<\/a>No matter how lovely most of your coworkers are, there are always a few personality types that tend to bring down office morale.<\/p>\n

But you don\u2019t have to let Mrs. Stress-y Pants or The \u201cNo\u201d Man make your nine-to-five life miserable.<\/p>\n

Below, our experts\u2019 tips on how to deal with the most annoying workplace dispositions in order to have a less stressful work day.<\/p>\n

The Spotlight Stealer<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re right in the middle of announcing to the team that you scored a new client when The Spotlight Stealer brings the attention of the group where she prefers it: back on her. When she interrupts your big news with her own, simply keep calm and continue with what you were saying after she runs out of steam, suggests Samantha DiGennaro, founder of DiGennaro Communications, a strategic public relations agency specializing in business communications. You can also lead by example by commending the entire team\u2014\u201cClient X signed on with our group\u201d\u2014instead of taking all the credit with a first-person statement, such as \u201cI wrangled Client X into signing on.\u201d Lastly, it can help to encourage the non-self-promoters to speak up, so The Spotlight Stealer doesn\u2019t get to play \u201cthe hero\u201d every time.<\/p>\n

The Office Lingerer<\/strong><\/p>\n

As much as you appreciate your company\u2019s open-door policy, when The Office Lingerer stops by to ask a question, then settles in and starts telling you all about his day, it\u2019s so frustrating you wish you could put a lock on your door. New York City-based Executive Recruiter Patricia H. Lenkov asks what\u2019s on all of our minds: \u201cHow is it that he has so much free time on his hands?!\u201d Regardless of how he spends his time, make it clear that yours is precious. As soon as he swings by, announce a \u201chard stop\u201d: \u201cWhat\u2019s up, Sam? I have a call in five minutes.\u201d Before he gets too comfy, remind him, \u201cThat call is in two minutes, so we need to wrap this up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Stress-y Pants<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Mrs. Stress-y Pants, everything is a major ordeal: filling out her timesheet, planning a meeting, deciding which restaurant to order lunch from\u2014you name it. Though you can\u2019t control her actions, you can control your reactions, says human resources expert Cy Wakeman, author of Reality-Based Leadership. Ask her calmly whether you can help. If she\u2019s too flustered to accept your assistance, try to explain that she\u2019s making the situation seem more stressful than it is. Wakeman recommends asking her questions, like “What are you believing in this moment?” and “What are the facts?\u201d Hopefully she\u2019ll start to see that the reality of what\u2019s going on isn\u2019t as bad as she\u2019s making it out to be. But, if it seems like you can\u2019t add immediate value to her problem-solving or that she might boil over any minute, simply walk away and move on with your day.<\/p>\n

The \u201cNo\u201d Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Forget about adding your two-cents to the conversation, The \u201cNo\u201d Man doesn’t want to hear your strategy ideas or consider a more modern email platform; if you ask him to do anything outside of the status quo, you already know the answer. Don\u2019t get caught up in his negativity, warns business expert Andrea Nierenberg, president of The Nierenberg Group, a business communications company that aims to improve employee and client relationships. Start conversations by letting him speak first and asking open-ended questions: \u201cAndy, what do you like about our current email platform?\u201d This should start a dialogue in which you can offer an alternative. When he (predictably) bristles at the idea of something new, ask him to come up with a solution, so the conversation becomes about what you can do instead of what you can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Miss No Manners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe you can hear her chewing (or chomping gum or playing music) through the cubicle wall, or perhaps she cooks smelly foods in the office microwave and leaves sloppy leftovers in the shared fridge\u2014whatever workplace etiquette rules you swear by, Miss No Manners is likely to break them. If you\u2019re comfortable speaking up, it\u2019s completely appropriate to ask her to stop her annoying behavior, says Lenkov. However, if you\u2019re not her superior, she may view your request as confrontational. Other options: Speak with the office manager or an office administrator, urges Lenkov, or suggest your superior send an office-wide email reminding everyone to observe and respect the company\u2019s code of conduct.<\/p>\n

The Slacker<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though you like to get to the office a little early so you can settle in before all the emails start flooding your inbox, The Slacker always rolls in late, leaves early and takes an extra-long lunch. Unfortunately, this means you get less done because you’re constantly waiting for her to be available. Develop a rapport with her, suggests Susan Zeidman, a portfolio manager at American Management Association who is responsible for many of her company\u2019s communications and management training programs. If she only makes herself available on a limited basis, you want to be someone she wants to see. If you\u2019re collaborating on a project, try to come to some agreement about availability without criticizing her. Once you\u2019ve worked out a plan together, share your plan via email with your boss or the rest of your team members so that she\u2019ll be held accountable if deadlines are missed.<\/p>\n

The Old Timer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk about a generation gap: At first, you found it endearing when The Old Timer called you \u201cdoll,\u201d but when he started asking you to send a fax or set-up a meeting\u2014even though you’re not his subordinate\u2014you grew tired of his Mad Men-esque ways. Determine why his behavior bothers you, says Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of The 11 Laws of Likability. Is using nicknames (albeit borderline-insulting ones) part of the office culture? How would he react if you said, \u201cSure, sweet-cheeks. I\u2019ll fax this if you grab my coffee\u201d? Sometimes it\u2019s easier to overlook ignorance when there\u2019s no evil intent behind it. However, if he is trying to \u201cput you in your place,\u201d stand your ground. Instead of doing his grunt work, offer to show him how it\u2019s done so he can do it himself next time.<\/p>\n

The Finger Pointer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether a deadline\u2019s been missed or a job\u2019s been botched, The Finger Pointer is the first to announce exactly who\u2019s to blame: anyone but her. For this personality type, communication is key, says Drew Stevens, who works with senior officers and managers to accelerate workplace productivity. Having a collaborative culture is good, but when you start a project, be very clear from the get-go about who\u2019s responsible for what. Decide as a group who will tackle each task, then circulate an email that clearly outlines what\u2019s expected of each group member, remembering to CC your boss. This way, should something go awry, everyone will know who is at fault.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Source: womansday.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No matter how lovely most of your coworkers are, there are always a few personality types that tend to bring down office morale. But you don\u2019t have to let Mrs. Stress-y Pants or The \u201cNo\u201d Man make your nine-to-five life miserable. Below, our experts\u2019 tips on how to deal with the most annoying workplace dispositions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[36],"yoast_head":"\nHow to deal with difficult coworkers - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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