HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT COLLEAGUES!
05 June, 2019 (Consolace Counselling Services)
Ways to cope with negative co-workers
It is not very uncommon to meet different personalities at workplace. With some people, you get along really well. But you may also encounter a few difficult co-workers who can make your work environment even more stressful. Talking about workplace and difficult colleagues, I remember my friend Sukanya who is a banker dealing with some difficult people at work. During her initial days as a banker, she did not seem to be happy with her work. I asked her if it is the work pressure that is bothering her. She said, "Work pressure is nothing compared to the people I have to face at work." Caught amidst a bunch of dominating and negative co-workers, she got frustrated to the point of quitting the job. But today when I see her, I find her to be a satisfied banker. So, what has changed in her life? She is still working with the same bunch of colleagues. The only difference is that she has now learnt the art of dealing with them. Here are some tips that helped Sukanya deal with difficult co-workers: difficult colleagues
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- Don't lose your cool: You may find all sorts of people at work. Some will pull your leg, some will dominate you, some will demotivate you. But no matter how the person treats you, the first thing you have to do is to stay calm. The more you stay calm, less will be the stress. Divert your attention from what the person is saying or doing to you. Focus on your breath and keep calm.
- Develop understanding: Sometimes we are too quick at judging others. A colleague comes and makes a comment about your dress or your hair. It is not always necessary that the person has an intention to hurt you. It can be possible that the person is trying to be more friendly and open to you. Some co-workers have the habit of pestering you with their doubts. Listen to them patiently and offer your possible help. Don't get angry or frustrated thinking that the person is doing this to you on purpose. Developing an understanding towards your colleagues is important while dealing with them.
- Defend yourself: If you have tried everything to avoid the co-worker giving you a tough time. And nothing really worked, you have every right to say to the person, "Please stop doing this, I don't like it." Sometimes, you have to speak up for yourself to not let others take advantage of your silence.
- Be you own stress buster: Compliment yourself for the way you dealt with your incredibly difficult co-workers. Take yourself out. Eat well and have a good laugh. These little things can play a great role in relieving the stress.
- Talk to someone: In most cases, it is seen that people usually don't share their difficulties at workplace with others. They try to keep it with themselves which builds up the pressure. Sharing your problems with others not only helps in releasing the pressure but you may never know what solutions to your problems the other person has in store for you. If friends and relatives can't help, it's good to share your concerns with a counsellor.
If you too are struggling with difficult colleagues, or need to share any other counselling related concerns, reach out to Consolace counselling services in Trivandrum. You cannot always change the way people behave to you at workplace or anywhere else. You can only try and bring changes in the way you respond to them. As Dave Willis says, "Show respect even to people who don't deserve it; not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours."