7 Types of toxic co-workers we deal with everyday, which one are you?

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Honestly speaking, the office is the only place where you spend more time than in your own home. Where your colleagues will eventually become more than just acquaintances. Working in a position also means coexisting with other live human beings, which can at times feel like a second set of responsibilities in and of itself.

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You cannot choose your coworkers. If you’re worried about being that guy in the office who no one likes, giving people space and keeping things professional are a couple of easy fixes you can make right away. But you can choose how your behaviour affects you. If you are unlucky enough to have toxic work colleagues, do not leave, let’s talk about the different types and solutions to face them.

1.The Tantrums

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Their features are very distinctive, they crush everything around you because you are not able to manage your emotions. Most times they are unstable and volatile to fellow workers. If you happen to fall in this category, it is important that when you are in a time of crisis, and avoid it. Wait until you are in a quiet moment and start a conversation in a relaxed tone.

If you’re a coworker working with the tantrum kind, if you see they are still nervous, do not succumb to their rudeness. When they’re more relaxed, they will talk to you.

2. The Chief Operator

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We have all interacted with this character. The typical behaviour of many bosses, they expect the impossible in terms of time, projects and resources (they have not yet realized that you only have 2 hands). He/she knows that it is impossible to get there, but he will not stop pressing and trying to make your life reduced to that project.

Well, if you want to have an easy time with them, help your boss set realistic priorities, to be really aware of what the project needs to end. When you get overwhelmed ask him to know the priorities of the project, explain what you want to do and focus your efforts.

3. The Abusers

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Majority of these co-workers usually humiliate and abuse you to get what they want. If you wish for their behaviour to stop, you should intervene before the abusive behaviour is triggered. They best way to work with these characters is letting them know how uncomfortable their energy is. If they cannot be confronted, then it would be best to avoid crossing their path, you aren’t looking for trouble are you?

4. The brags

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The perfect idea is always theirs, so it is difficult for you to contribute your ideas or to carry out your projects. All they ever want is to brag how they know things and what they can do. Others want to show off what they own, if they recently bought a new phone, trust me, it becomes the talk for the entire month.

If you happen to fall as a coworker who is a ‘brag’ consider offering a wider range of options and approaches and be very assertive. Try to make the result of the conversation to win-win. In your explanation, make use of “What do you think if you have said we add this?”

5. The Passive-Aggressive

These people are almost impossible to understand, they are very poor communicators and they are never there when you need them. They usually ignore you, since they avoid any confrontation. For everyone to have an easy time at the office, find a way to communicate with a coworker who falls under this category, engage in conversations that generate interest. Maybe you prefer regular mails or voice notes, find out. But it establishes a protocol to communicate with him attractive and regular.

6. The Second Chief

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Ugh..! These ones will give you migraines for life! These coworkers control your work because they do not trust you or because they simply cannot leave you alone. Either way, they undermine your morale instantly because it seems like they were forced to think for you.

if you happen to be a control freak; learn to “over-communicate” so that your colleagues are aware of your progress and have no reason to control you. A comment that you have finished that and that you are going to put on this other one. Or how little you have left to perfect that part.

7. The Liar

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They manipulate and lie for you to work more or to achieve what they propose. You cannot trust them. If you a the ‘Liar’ learn to ask your boss or colleagues, to cover your back and you will avoid being thrown to the floor.

Remember that you decide when it comes to your work. Do not let yourself get caught or overwhelmed, you have many opportunities so it’s not worth it. The problem is that sometimes the routine seems comfortable, even if it is toxic because the change can seem equally daunting.

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