We’ve all been there—working with someone who drives us up the wall. Maybe it’s the person who laughs way too loud at the worst times or the one who keeps stealing ideas and getting all the credit. Sometimes, it’s just a clash of personalities: one person is super fast and energetic, while the other is slow and a bit clumsy. And then there are those times when you’re just not on the same wavelength, like when different departments are trying to collaborate but can’t seem to get it together. All of this can really mess with both the workflow and the end results.
Usually, there are four tricky personality types that can make work relationships tough: selfishness, conflict, rudeness, and irresponsibility. The good news? You can figure out how to handle each of these types.
Dealing with an Egoist
Egoists aren’t exactly known for being warm and fuzzy. They’re usually all about themselves, and in the worst cases, they can be pretty toxic or even narcissistic. According to psychology professor Art Markman, narcissists can really mess up the workplace, but it’s key to tell the difference between someone who’s just confident and someone who’s a full-on narcissist. The latter tends to overlook other people’s good ideas and think way too highly of themselves.
If you’re a manager, it’s best to tackle this behavior head-on. If you see someone stepping on others, let them know it’s not cool. If it’s a coworker, do the same—don’t let them walk all over you.
Handling a Conflict Magnet
No one wants drama at work, but some people just can’t help themselves and seem to thrive on conflict. Management professor Stefan Dilchert points out that not all conflicts are bad; some can actually help things move forward. But then there are those who just want to stir the pot for no good reason.
If you’re in charge, try giving these folks tasks to work on solo to avoid more drama. It’s also super important to create a supportive team vibe. If you’re dealing with a conflict-loving coworker, don’t play their game. Keep your responses short and steer the conversation back to work. Eventually, they’ll realize you’re not the right person to engage with and might look for someone else to bother.
Tackling a Rude Coworker
Rude people aren’t always the ones making snarky comments; sometimes they’re just overly critical and not great at teamwork. When you’re dealing with someone like this, being direct can really help. They often don’t get hints or soft language. Instead of saying, “The project edits are mostly good, but a few things need tweaking,” just say, “Here’s what needs to be fixed in the project…”
It can also help to team up with others. If the rude person starts criticizing someone’s work, turn it into a brainstorming session where everyone pitches in ideas. This can shift their focus.
Some rude folks try to take charge and push their opinions on everyone. If that’s the case, psychotherapist Melody Wilding suggests focusing on results. Rude people often care about getting things done, so you can point out how their behavior is holding the team back. This is especially useful for managers—remind them they’re part of a team and that aggressive behavior isn’t acceptable.
Working with an Irresponsible Colleague
Some coworkers just don’t seem to care about deadlines or taking responsibility. They’re often seen as unreliable and prefer to do things their own way, which can be frustrating, especially when a deadline is looming.
To get things moving with these colleagues, you might need to raise the stakes. They might not care about your requests, but they’ll likely pay attention if they know the boss is keeping an eye on things. If that doesn’t work, remind them of the company culture, which probably doesn’t support laziness. That might just make them rethink their approach to work.
