How to Handle Annoying Colleagues

monk, at some point, an annoying colleague who makes your skin crawl and makes you grind your teeth in utter disgust is likely to break your threshold of patience. You might reason that after a certain point, such an outburst is justified but at workplaces, such things can prove damaging for your professional life. Here, are a few tips to handle irritating office colleagues in a manner that puts you at ease and neutralizes chances of your emotional eruptions:

She’s a Blink & Miss Type

Her ability to complete work within deadlines despite being perpetually absent from her desk would even embarrass Houdini. It is not magic really but women are expert at manipulating folks around them and getting their work done, using the stolen time for chatting on the phone or just idling away with a cup of coffee.

Don’t accept her callousness. Next time, there is a team meeting, ensure that you bring up the topic of individual breaks being recorded / managed in some way. Clearly state that you have seen some folks take undue advantage of the management’s liberties. Even if your boss is a habitual break-seeker, he cannot refuse a matter that involves actual, employee work time being wasted.

Yes, He Procrastinates

On some people, talking about deadlines is just wasted. They couldn’t care less about the world around them, including their office colleagues, which includes You. Here, you have to be a bit proactive. Take the initiative in setting-up reminders across all forms of supplies available to you. This can include paste-it desk slips, SMS, reminder calls, reminder emails and using any other form of office communication. Nag him to the extent that not doing your work feels like being constipated for days—if he won’t get “it” done, doing anything else would be uneasy.

She’s Too Polite but she does not Work

Some people have mastered the art of seeming so polite; it seems as if saying ‘No’ to them or not abiding by their opinions is equal to saying ‘No’ to World Peace! Women tend to do this a lot, smiling and cajoling you into unwanted situations, leaving you biting your nail later when you realize how misguiding her smile was.

Use her weapon, against her. Be overtly gracious to her, even when arguing your point. Put-on that plastic smile that Miss World contestants do so impeccably, even when you vehemently dump her perspective in front of everybody. Keep reminding her of the things she hasn’t done without a hint of anger. Feeling that her own wonder drug is being used on her is sure to make her suffer.

He Interrupts You

Folks who have an obsession towards interrupting others can be found in nearly every workplace.  Yes, such irksome habits can make you literally feel like banging his head against the wall—don’t do it, instead play his game, against him. For a week or two, ensure that you don’t leave any opportunity of interrupting your perennial intruder. Do this with the kind of regularity that would even put him to shame. If he dares to question your behavior, you have won the moment—just tell him that this is exactly how he irritates you and everybody else.