Coping with a Difficult Work Colleague

I have been sure to title this article in the singular as I really do hope that at most you only have one difficult co-worker to have to deal with as opposed to having multiple thorny colleagues to have to manage.

Office politics and trying to find ways to manage difficult co-workers is a task we all have to endure. As the saying states; 'in South Africa's Rainbow Nation,' prepare to find diversity in cultures, religions, races, sexes and ages. Now try to imagine going to work every day trying to please all of those personalities? 'Not Going to Happen!'

With today's biggest influence being that which sets us apart from each other, you are bound to clash with at least one person at work. Whether it is the copier guy, the perky PA or heavens forbid the manager himself. The important thing when coping with a difficult colleague is to always be courteous, business like and open minded. When handling difficult colleagues, try to be the bigger person. As clichéd' as that sounds, it really isn't worth your trouble exhausting your resources on Dr Phil's latest techniques.

Here are Jobs.co.za Top Five Tips to assist you when dealing with a difficult co-worker. Practice these tips on a continual basis and your coping mechanisms when dealing with trying colleagues will vastly improve.

 Tip One: Examine Yourself as A Colleague.

Before suggesting you rush off to investigate the psyche of your fellow colleagues, begin with yourself. When faced with a difficult colleague or situation, begin by taking self assessment tests in order to gain some introspection into your own personality. You may also be a difficult colleague to some and it's safe to assume that you too may have certain character flaws. Self-assessment tests are the most accurate way learn vital information about yourself in a working environment. They point out your likes and dislikes, values, work ethics, how you behave around colleagues and what personality type you are. By understanding the way you work with others will assist you when dealing with co-worker conflict. When you are continuously looking at yourself and how you evolve in a working environment you are aware of the things you need to improve on as well as the areas in which you excel.

Tip Two: Practice Patience with Difficult Colleagues.

Patience certainly is a virtue that doesn't grow on trees. Practice patience when dealing with a difficult co worker. Trying to get a word in when someone is upset and ranting and raving is not really worth your trouble. Allow the difficult colleague to argue his or her case. Try to stay calm and unemotional. Take note of the key issue and jot down keywords to help you remember your argument. A sure way of making an argument worse is by not listening to what your colleague is saying. Don't concentrate on what your next snappy comeback will be but rather try to listen to the points that are being raised by your colleague.

Tip Three: Take Responsibility for Your Career.

Continuously manage your career portfolio. By this I mean include managers in on compliment mails you may receive. Supply progress updates to your line manager and be sure to let them know of areas of improvement and achievements. Keep track of quantifiable accomplishment and remember to keep a score of your KPI's. Measurable delivery of your skills is what really counts and gets you noticed. By taking care to note and document your skills and accomplishments, you will outshine any troublesome colleague's attempts at taking undue credit.

Tip Four: Refrain from Office Gossip/ Politics.

Office gossip and office politics are the number one killers of employee morale. By partaking in office gossip and getting involved in the politics within your establishment only spells disaster. Office gossip is not only disrespectful to your peers but also tarnishes your own credibility. By participating in any form of office gossip opens your own integrity up for questioning. If a 'controversial' colleague tries to engage you in a scandalous conversation try to change the topic as quickly as you can or excuse yourself from the conversation altogether.

Tip Five: When All Else Fails.

There may come a time when the above tips just may not work on anyone. If things get this bad, only then should you exercise the following extreme 'Difficult Colleague' aversion tips. Avoid the annoying colleague at all costs. Invest in a good pair of slip on 'glasses and nose piece' headsets for close encounters on coffee breaks. When challenged with face to face interactions, massage the lobes of your ears ad recite the mantra; 'Goose fois Grois' (pronounced goooose Fraaa Gwaaah), until the difficult colleague disappears from your mind. Research contagious diseases during your lunch break and each week announce a new tropical disease you are infected with and if you still have a problem with an annoying colleague, it's time to jump into a Jobs.co.za job; be it him/her or you.

All jokes aside, coping with a difficult colleague is a pretty difficult encounter to have to deal with. Remember that everyone is different for a reason. Accept the challenge of learning innovative ways to boost company moral, encourage sound team work and manage conflict in the workplace in the most constructive way possible. Keep an open mind and try to learn more about colleagues from different backgrounds. The inter-learning between cultures, religions, races, sexes and ages is what makes diverse organisations the very best to be a part of.

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