I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “One bad banana can ruin the bunch.” Someone popped into your head, didn’t they? We all know one annoying person can ruin your experience or at least make it much more challenging, especially when you’re on the job. Being in the office has its challenges without additional annoyance from certain coworkers. That’s why we’ve gathered some tips for dealing with that troubling coworker so you can do your job in peace.
1. Create space.
Avoid the person causing drama or draining your energy by staying away and not engaging. It can be tricky if your offices are close to each other, but you can always find professional (“I have a meeting.”) and reasonable (“I have to use the restroom.”) ways to decline invites to talk.
2. Focus on work.
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This is a two-in-one solution. Not only do you give yourself a reason not to be available to that troublesome coworker, but you’ll also be more productive. Focusing on your workload will fend off any attempts at unpleasant conversation and force your workmate to take their complaints elsewhere.
3. Find an office buddy.
Finding someone you get along with is a powerful tool for avoiding harassment. If you’re always with your friend, the person you’re avoiding is less likely to come strike up a conversation with you than when you’re alone. If you spend the whole lunch hour with your friend engaged in conversation, it acts as a shield, and your office nuisance will have to find a more creative way to get under your skin. This tactic is well-known and used to avoid bullying, so next time you have to share space with an annoying coworker, give this tip a shot.
4. Sit them down and tell them how you feel.
Sometimes, honesty is the best policy. As long as you are tactful and don’t shame the person you’re addressing, you might be able to appeal to their better nature. However, if the conversation gets heated, it may be better to politely end it and return later. At least you have a clear conscience, knowing you made an effort.
5. Do some housekeeping around conduct.
If someone is disruptive or hostile in a public space, it can be essential to reinforce basic conduct standards from the top. Bring this up privately to the office manager or whoever is overseeing things—alerting them to the issues can ensure they enforce the rules to help avoid negativity at work.
6. Boost your inner zen.
Coming to work with the right attitude and being prepared for anything that might come up is a solid strategy for dealing with troublesome coworkers. If you are calm, centered, and focused, it’s much harder for someone to antagonize or annoy you. Namaste.
7. Keep your conversations short and focus on clarity.
Keeping your answers short and professional is key. When you don’t leave any wiggle room for misunderstanding, your coworker has no way of twisting your words or starting an argument. It might even be wise to write a script or practice what you mean to say before communicating with your difficult coworker.
8. Get the team motivated.
If the coworker in question is bringing the team down by not contributing, then it might be time to create a solution that motivates them. Suggest a contest or find ways to boost productivity and bring them up in group meetings. The key to this tip is not singling anyone out.
9. Insist on professional contact and zero-tolerance policies.
Harassment has no place in a professional environment. Remember that you have a right to a comfortable workspace and positive peer-to-peer relations. If someone is aggressive or unpleasant, remind them of the company policies. A firm warning may be enough for them to reconsider their behavior.
10. Show your coworker empathy.
Let’s be honest: We all have days when we’re a little insufferable. If someone is hard to deal with, they may not realize it, and they may have some underlying issue they want to address but don’t know how. Talking directly to your coworker about what’s bothering them or what you can do to make their job at the office easier can go a long way. Because you took the time to show them compassion and work together to address your issues, your coworkers are more likely to have a reciprocal attitude and put the effort in.
11. Keep it positive.
Sometimes, people overstep what’s appropriate for the workplace or get too involved in gossip. Gossip can be damaging to the work environment overall, so make a point to avoid negative talk about coworkers or sharing overly personal details. This article may be helpful if you want some tips on approaching workplace gossip.
12. Consider a transfer.
If you are in a company with different departments or have the option to work remotely, it might be worth considering a transfer. It’s not that you should have to leave your position, but it’s sometimes worth putting your well-being first. Sometimes, with particularly stubborn nuisances, the only way out is to leave them far behind.
13. Try to find common ground.
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As we mentioned before, the coworker you’re struggling with may just be making a misguided attempt to connect with you. If you want to avoid bragging, laziness, or gossip, finding another commonality that you two can talk about instead could be the key to diffusing unpleasant interactions.
14. Redirect their energy.
If you find the annoying coworker focusing on you or a specific aspect of the job, redirecting some of that negative energy can be a good idea. Sometimes, this can be focusing on a more significant issue (like the lack of bonuses) or having them turn the hostility into pure fuel to help them conquer their workload. Everyone has to get out their bad vibes somehow, but you can help make their expression more positive.
15. When all else fails, take it to upper management.
If you’ve tried a few other diplomatic solutions and they haven’t worked, there’s no shame in arranging a meeting with your coworker and the human resources representative. HR is there to help with peer-to-peer issues, and they may be able to help you settle things with the coworker more easily.
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