How to Survive Working With Difficult Colleagues: Are You a Natural Born Leader?:

Are you under stress and heading for burnout because you are working with difficult colleagues? Dealing with difficult colleagues often involves both and it is never easy, but be aware that there will always be difficult colleagues on every job, on every level of employment and wherever colleagues work together.  

The article, “Dealing with difficult colleagues” offers some suggestions.

Consider these guidelines regarding how to survive working with difficult colleagues.

Maintain an attitude of respect for your colleagues:

Even on a professional level, your colleagues will not be perfect and may be difficult to work with, particularly if they are authoritarian, repeatedly criticize you or question your efforts. Respect them regardless, because how you choose to deal with your colleagues may determine your own survival on that level.

Maintaining an attitude of respect for all of your colleagues, even when they are difficult is not easy, but it wins in the end because what you give to others, you will receive back. In other words, by according others respect whether they deserve it or not, you earn their respect and perhaps that of others, too.

For example, you find an elderly man extremely difficult to work with because he is continually demanding your time and attention. A young woman is always distracting you with her web sites on fashion design. A teenager is rowdy and disruptive at times, continually making calls to his girlfriend on his smart phone.

You decide to treat everyone with respect regardless and in time, you become their manager because of how you interacted with them.

Set a good example for your difficult colleagues:

Setting a good example for difficult colleagues can be a vital factor in your survival as a professional. For example, there may be the office gossip, someone who always whines or complains or another colleague who always shows up late and never get his or her work done on time.

In terms of accountability, you are accountable for what you do and say. Likewise, your colleagues are accountable for what they do and say, even when you become their manager.

Your words and example may not always bring about changes in the words, deeds and actions of your colleagues, but you can influence them in a positive direction. For example, if you refuse to participate in gossip, it soon becomes apparent to others that maybe they should not do so either. If you do not whine or complain, they may stop whining and complaining in time.

Become a leader for your difficult colleagues:

Perhaps you do not know or understand why your colleagues are being so difficult. Become a good listener and try to find out why. Over time, you may become their new leader. Be aware that to them, you may be a difficult colleague too, because you are a natural born leader.

Respect, setting a good example and becoming a leader can bring about positive changes with difficult workers, reduce your stress level, prevent potential burnout and help you to survive in your workplace environment.