5 Types of difficult co-workers (and how you can handle them)

Angela Goh

18 Apr 2017

updated the 19 April 2017 à 16:09

1/5
The Gossiper
Also known as The One with the Big Mouth, colleagues who enjoy gossiping tend to not realise that some of their comments are unwarranted and necessary. This type of co-worker enjoys pulling those around them into speculative discussions about other people in the office. Whether it’s about the boss or the janitor, they have no problems talking about them behind their backs, especially when they manage to find a ‘juicy’ topic. They might even manage to sway your opinions about others. As such, it’s best refrain from feeding into this person’s desire for a ‘gossip friend’.
2/5
The Complainer
The internet is slow. There’s too much clutter in the office. The cleaner forgot to take the trash out. There are too many emails to clear. Whatever it is, this co-worker makes it his mission to moan about everything in the most negative way, leading you to believe that they don’t have a single happy bone in their body. A co-worker who is constantly a downer can certainly affect the mood in the office. To prevent their discouraging comments from turning your office into a one-stop shop for grumbling and whining, make sure you switch things up during your conversations with them to bring the discussion to more positive territory. For example, if they complain about the sweltering hot weather outside, say something like “yeah, it’s kinda hot, but at least we get to stay indoors for the rest of the day, away from the heat.”
3/5
The Lazy One
This co-worker is happy to shirk their responsibilities and let someone else pick up the slack. If you’re starting to get frustrated with their lack of commitment to important projects, noticing that they’d rather “delegate” work to others than do it themselves, but are aren’t sure how to address the situation in a way that you think won’t be overly aggressive, it’s best to speak to your manager about it and present them with proof to back up your claims (such as emails and correspondences).
4/5
The Competitor
Highly competitive co-workers can come across as passive-aggressive over-achievers. While competition in the workplace isn’t necessarily a negative thing, overdoing it can cause plenty of stress and strain on everyone else. If you know someone in the workplace who can’t stand to come second, it can place a lot of pressure on the rest of you to perform. It might take a bit of practice, but it’s possible to stay focused on what you have to do instead of feed into the desire of forever trying to keep up with this highly competitive team member.
5/5
The Control Freak
This type of co-worker is pushy, demanding, controlling, and can come across as domineering “perfectionists”. They tend to hate dawdlers and idle chit-chat because they are so focused on getting the job done. Deal with them by ensuring you are short and efficient when in their presence, especially with your responses to their queries. They don’t like thinking they’re wasting their time on trivial matters.

Don’t let these co-workers get in the way of a pleasant day at the office.

Let’s face it, we spend half our days with the people we work with. Unfortunately, it’s not always the case that we get along with everyone perfectly fine in the office, especially since the workplace can be a very stressful environment for many, prompting unsavoury natures of even the most unlikely people to shine through.

Perhaps you’ve worked in several office settings in the past – if so, you might already have figured out the different types of difficult co-workers that seem to make an appearance no matter where you are, no matter what industry you’re in. If that’s the case, you probably want to know how to deal with them in order to keep the office a less dramatic place.

Up in the gallery, we’ve rounded up 5 common difficult co-worker personalities to know, and the best ways to manage each of them.

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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