Difficult Coworkers

Hey folks, found this article during my web rounds on a pertinent subject. Maybe some of this advice will be helpful.

The link should work, now. In case it doesn't, here's the crucial info:


1. It’s Impossible to Please Everybody
No matter how cheerful and wonderful a person you are, you just can’t please everybody. Many times, people who are known for being difficult just don’t think of anyone other than themselves, which makes it hard for them to be considerate of others. They may also have a very negative outlook on life, perhaps because of a troubled past or because of their current situation. Their negativity may be very deeply rooted with many years of built up issues. The best thing you can do in this instance is to realize that they may be dealing with a lot of stuff that’s simply out of your reach.

2. Be Prepared for Conflict
The best way to deal with a negative situation is to see it coming. If you’re going to have to work closely with or otherwise deal with this difficult coworker, know ahead of time how you’re going to handle the situation. Set up the conflict in your head and work through how you’re going to handle it. Know your own limitations and be prepared to uphold your morals and values in the situation by not letting go of your self-confidence and not allowing them to get under your skin. Recognize their problem as their problem.

3. Don’t Fuel the Fire
You’re going to be tempted to retaliate – to lash out at this person in an attempt to try and "make them understand" how their negativity is affecting you. 99% of the time, this is the worst thing that you can do. People who thrive in being difficult and causing tension also thrive in controversy. Any exchange of negative words makes them feel powerful and fuels their need for pessimism. "Kill 'em with kindness" is the best piece of advice for dealing with situations involving difficult people. They will either become too frustrated or too bored with you, eventually become disinterested in engaging in debate with you, making your work situation more focused on the actual work, instead of dealing with this difficult coworker.

4. Lend a Helping Hand
Although not beneficial in all situations, sometimes a difficult person is looking for an ally – someone to spill their heart to and let go of their pent up frustrations. Just by being a good listener, you may be able to better the situation between you and this coworker that you find to be so difficult. Once you’ve broken down the wall of conflict, you may then be able to give suggestions on how this person could improve their attitude to help your work situation. If they are not receptive to your input, try using a neutral 3rd party person to navigate the conflict into a compromised outcome.

5. Move On
There comes a point where you just can’t fix the problem, so whether it’s them or you that have to move on somebody needs to. If working with this person has become unbearable, you should start thinking about either moving yourself to a different department, moving them to a different department, or letting them go – if you have that kind of say in the situation. Sometimes a difficult person makes it tough for everyone, creating a negative atmosphere and lowering productivity, which is plenty reason for dismissal.