MANAGING DIFFICULT COLLEAGUES

There is always that colleague almost everyone at work has a problem with. Do you wonder why everyone has a problem with Ebuka in the accounting department and his partner in crime, Bamise in insurance? This might not necessarily be because they are incompetent or they don’t do their job right. It could be because they are generally difficult people to work with or because they do not know how to communicate properly. It could also be because they always complain about every little thing.

Dealing with this set of colleagues can be very tiring and you find yourself trying as much as possible to dodge them. However, it is almost impossible to avoid them. There is no workplace without them. Knowing how to deal with this kind of colleague is a necessary life-saving skill everyone should have.

Have you been wondering how you can manage that colleague? Keep reading for tips

1. Be tolerant: It is important to have a level of tolerance. No matter how difficult a colleague is, being able to tolerate their shortcomings is the best way to manage difficult colleagues. We know this is one of the things that are easier said than done. However, it is achievable. You need to understand people are different in many ways and learning how to accept that you need to get along with them ensures a smooth atmosphere of the workplace.
2. Have a one-on-one conversation with them: Getting to know that dreaded colleague makes it easier to understand their point of view. It can be difficult to know the right time to approach him or her, especially when you are not sure about how they will react and you don’t want anyone screaming at you during work hours.

A little bit of observation will help you know the right time to approach that colleague. We advise you to offer him/her a cup of coffee two consecutive days before you finally hit the nail on the head. This would enable you to have a friendly conversation with that colleague instead of adding more fuel to the fire.

1. Know your trigger points: It is important to identify which of their behaviour triggers you the most. Knowing what triggers you makes it easy to communicate it to the person. You can let them know what they say or do that gets on your nerves.
2. Be objective: It is important to keep your opinions to yourself when someone else in the office has a clash with the person. Remaining neutral at work is one of the best ways to maintain a good working atmosphere. Rather than dwelling on this co-worker, divert your attention to something more productive.
3. Focus on the positives: No matter how annoying or difficult a person is, there is always a good part of the person. It could be how early they resume work or how nice they look every Monday morning or even their contributions to society. It is advisable to focus on the good part of the person and who knows, you might end up liking this person.
4. Put them into prayer: As funny as this sounds, this is as well a very effective way to manage difficult colleagues. A word of prayer can make that difficult colleague your best friend.

Can you tell us who that difficult colleague is in the comment section? Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.

We hope you enjoyed this article. Don’t forget to try out these tips. Gracias!