Every work place has its fair share of employees that may come from different backgrounds, cultures, or even have different perceptions. Considering how you spend most of your day at work, your co-workers with can either make the work environment amiable, or on the contrary – quite toxic. If you are working in a diverse office, it’s only natural to encounter co-workers with characteristics that conflict your own. Dealing with such people can take a toll not only on your well-being but on your work productivity as well.
Here’s a list of personalities that Akhtaboot believes you should avoid at work:
THE ATTENTION SEEKER
The attention seeker strives after full recognition and praise in the office. He or she wants to be in the constant spotlight, even if it means outshining employees who deserve the spotlight themselves. Attention seekers want to feed their ego in any possible way, such as boasting about their achievements and disregarding the establishments of their fellow co-workers. How do you stop these attention seekers from intoxicating your work environment? It’s simple; refrain from giving them any compliments until they have finished a certain assignment, and avoid giving them constant praise and attention.
THE BLAMER
Nothing can be more frustrating than having someone at the office who constantly points fingers and shifts the blame of his or her mishaps on others. Blamers usually avoid apologizing, and they barely acknowledge how their behaviors are affecting those in the office. Communicating with blamers can be quite difficult especially when they don’t like to see the other side of the story. Stretching the truth is also another issue with the blamer as they wouldn’t mind twisting the truth just to convince others that their version of the story is the accurate one. When dealing with such an employee, make sure you avert the attention to the actual facts that can easily be verified.
THE MOODY ONE
People with mood swings, take you on a crazy roller coaster ride with their grouchy personalities. A moody employee will tend to base his or her decisions on their mood. Considering how such employees may have regular outbursts in the office, the best thing to do is not react to their sudden mood swings. Listen to what they have to say and try to avoid getting them on the defensive side. This way, their inconsistent mood swings won’t affect the stability of the working environment, and most importantly, your work productivity. At the end of the day, it might only be that moody co-workers just need to relax a bit, so whenever possible, try to lighten the mood with humor!
THE COMPLAINER
Nothing will seem good enough for an employee who is constantly complaining. Such employees will not only disrupt the tranquility of the work environment, but also shatter the morale of others. Listening to a multitude of complaints all the time can only spread negativity, and create unnecessary conflicts in the workplace over irrelevant issues. The best way to approach a complainer at work is to ask them questions that will help them see the positive aspect of the situation rather than the negative one.
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