The Gossip Queen, the Know it All, the Grouch. At work, you expect others to act professionally, but at least one of them will cross your path and you will question how to keep your sanity! Here’s how to better handle these people.
Don’t wish them away. Wishing won’t help! The chances of their leaving and/or changing are slim. Admit to yourself that you have trouble with some people. Only then can you begin to think of ways to work with them.
Don’t get sucked into playing their game. Challenging people are actually trying to control you. They want you to listen and agree with them. Don’t! When they get off track, bring them back to the work issue rather than reinforcing their behavior.
Get some distance. Mentally and physically remove yourself from the situation. This helps you to see what people are really trying to do and provides you an opportunity to form a suitable response … which may mean saying nothing!
Be confident. Believe in yourself. Difficult people look for victims. If you are self-assured, you will be a less desirable target for their childish behavior.
Don’t grumble to others. No matter how tempting it may be, avoid complaining about your difficult person. If other people are working with the same person, they already know and don’t need you to spread the word. Also, you risk being labeled as a whiner or trouble maker.
Set limits sooner than later. You may need to set parameters. It’s better to handle the situation while you’re emotionally in control. If it goes on too long, you might speak out of anger or frustration and say things you will regret later.
Maintain a pleasant relationship. Even if you don’t like the difficult person, you may still need them and can possibly even learn from them. You probably won’t be best friends, but try to understand their perspective. This will make working with them a lot easier!