As one of Dade County’s top employment agencies, Future Force knows in an ideal world, you’d work with those you respect, relate to and enjoy. In reality, though, you might work alongside those you don’t like much, or perhaps even worse. If this sounds familiar, what can you do to make a bad situation better – and get along with a co-worker who frustrates you? Start by following these 5 tips:
Tip #1: Confront your co-worker.
If there’s something specific a co-worker is doing – like always gossiping about your boss – then confront them in a calm and reasonable manner and ask them to refrain from the offensive behavior when you’re around. Don’t call them out in front of others or try to embarrass them. Just state your case; they probably don’t even know their behavior is making you uncomfortable.
Tip #2: Focus on the positive.
While there are certainly attributes you can do without, what positive qualities does your co-worker have that you do like? One annoying trait could be overshadowing many good ones, so try and focus on the latter instead.
Tip #3: Get to know them.
You never know what’s going on behind closed doors. A stressful home situation could be making a co-worker operate with a short fuse at work. Try to connect with him and her and get to know them better. When you do, you may learn information that helps you gain insight into why they act the way they do.
Tip #4: Be professional.
You don’t need to try and become best friends with a colleague you don’t much like. But you should always be professional. If the tips above don’t work, then try to maintain a distance from your co-worker as much as possible, and simply aim to be professional when the two of you do have to interact or work together.
Tip #5: Bring it to your boss.
You should always try to deal with the situation on your own without first dragging your boss into the mix. But if the behavior is getting out of hand – and moving into dangerous territory, like bullying or harassment – then it’s time to alert management. You don’t want to be a tattletale, but at the same time, your co-worker is creating a toxic environment for you and probably others, as well.
Considering the amount of time you spend at work, you want to have co-workers you like and respect. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Follow the tips above to get along with those you’re not fond of – and enjoy your workday a little more.
Ready to enjoy your workday – but in a new job at a new company? Call Future Force. As one of Dade County’s top employment agencies, we can give you the inside scoop on getting hired at some of the area’s leading organizations. Contact us today if you’re ready to get started.