How to Handle Unprofessional Co-Workers

Conflict is nothing new in the workplace. But still-tight budgets, large workloads and uncertainty about the economic landscape may be causing many professionals to feel greater pressure on the job, leading to more disagreements between coworkers. If you find yourself at odds with a colleague, how you respond could directly affect your career prospects.

Most professionals will encounter an unpleasant colleague at some point in their careers. In fact, according to a survey by OfficeTeam, 29 percent of workers said they currently collaborate with someone who is rude or unprofessional on the job. Of those, more than two-thirds (68 percent) felt their coworkers frequently behave poorly.

Tactfully managing challenging personalities requires strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy. Here are a few of the most common types of difficult coworkers and tips for coping with them:

• The Belittler. Belittlers tear others down in order to build themselves up. Demeaning remarks and disparaging comments are common trademarks of this person. Your confidence is the Belittler’s enemy, and he or she will back off if you stand up for yourself.  
• The Credit Thief. Insecure about their status (or perhaps lazy when it comes to reinforcing it), Credit Thieves boldly steal ideas and grab the glory when a project is successful. Avoid this by keeping a written record of your activities and accomplishments. Give your manager regular status reports about the projects you’re working on, and who is doing what.
• The Rumormonger. This type of coworker likes to spread half-truths or lies by talking behind others’ backs. The best defense against a Rumormonger is to avoid engaging in gossip. Remember that anything you say can be held against you.
• The Slacker. Slackers may try to pass off tasks to other staff. They often claim they are “too busy” to help out yet will make time for web surfing during office hours. To make sure Slackers carry their weight on a team project, document the responsibilities of each member of the group and be firm about deadlines.

Although nobody likes working with people who are inconsiderate or unkind, the longer you are in the workforce, the more adept you will become at dealing with these types of colleagues. You may not be able to control their behavior, but you can control your reaction to it by remaining polished and professional.