From petty disagreements to all out rivalries, nearly all of us
know how clashing personalities at work can affect us. But even in
the most extreme cases, there's usually a way to deal with that
co-worker who always gets under your skin.
If you have to interact with different "characters" in your
workplace, follow these tips to deal with them successfully.
The defensive
guy
We all know "Mr.
Perfect" -- he's the guy who can never accept constructive
criticism, no matter how you deliver it. He believes his way of
doings things is always correct, and nothing you or anyone else can
say will ever change his mind.
The constant
arguer
You know that guy who
speaks up just to hear the sound of his own voice? Of course you
do; we all do. This is the guy who will dispute even the most
rational points, just to be heard. He loves to disagree, and always
has a problem with what others say.
The "me"
guy
This is the guy who
epitomizes ego. He has an inflated sense of himself, and believes
that everything always revolves around his needs. He takes credit
for everything, regardless of whether or not he actually deserves
it, especially when it comes to team projects. The ego-obsessed
co-worker also believes his problems are always bigger and more
important than everyone else's.
The stubborn
guy
This is the guy who's
anything but a team player. He's too committed to his own ways to
ever be open to change and new ideas. And even when it seems
obvious to everyone else that his methods are ineffective, he
always believes that his way of doing things is the best one. The
stubborn guy may not always put in the energy to argue with others,
but he's generally an old-fashioned guy who is set in his
ways.
The
backstabber
This is the guy
we all really hate -- he talks trash about you and your work to
others, and he typically does it behind your back. He characterizes
you as someone who's incompetent, and does his very best to make
you look bad in front of your co-workers and superiors. Regardless
of whether or not it's true, the backstabber is effective in
creating the perception that you're as bad as he makes you out to
be.
The blame game
guy
When it comes to playing
the blame game, this guy's the champion. He never takes
responsibility for his mistakes and shifts the blame onto others,
often to an incredibly irrational extent. He fails to realize that
the easiest way to impress your co-workers is to admit when you've
done something wrong, and explore ways to avoid doing so in the
future.
The whiner
The whiner is that guy who always
complains. He's constantly crossing the delicate line between
venting frustration and unconstructive nitpicking. He unleashes his
cynical attitude onto whoever happen's around him, whether they
want to hear it or not.