How to deal with difficult co-workers (and 5 examples)

Workplaces full of people will have the occasional interpersonal problem or disagreement. Other times, though, it might be one specific co-worker who creates problems, such as through gossip, over-competing, or negativity. Put yourself in the best situation when you face a difficult co-worker, and you may be able to resolve things before escalating your concerns to management.

After dealing with a difficult person in your company for a while, though, you might need a few tips. Take a look at this guide on how to deal with difficult co-workers, looking at five of the most common types.

The negative co-worker

Negativity can be a way to vent, but it shouldn’t go far enough to hinder team morale. If the person is being negative in the context of providing feedback, though, it can be tough to determine how to respond. Critical people might still be right sometimes, and no one wants to create an impression that they can’t handle critique.

Simple as it sounds, the best way to disarm negativity is with positivity. People who are stuck in negative thought patterns will usually return to the same ones, so you can predict what they might say. From there, you can ask them positive-leaning questions like “What do you think we should do about that?” Instead of negatively remarking on their comments, encourage a forward, proactive discussion every time.

The gossiping co-worker

Sometimes gossip is just natural venting or fun, and other times it can be malicious. In either case, it’s the second-biggest office-productivity killer. A gossiper at your job is someone who shares sensitive or private information about people around the office. Gossip is often about what someone else said, so one of the best ways to shut it down is to make a habit of speaking to people directly. When you keep your personal life out of work and stay honest with everyone, a gossiping co-worker has nothing to use against you.

The overly competitive co-worker

The average company’s culture depends on a balance of competition and cooperation. Someone who is overly competitive might refuse to help others even when they could, or will attempt to blame others for their own mistakes. One of the worst things an overly competitive person can do is take credit for your work. If that happens, don’t let it stand and immediately but politely correct any misunderstandings about who did what.

The definition of what’s overly competitive will vary depending on the job and company. But people can see the difference between those who can push a little harder when asked for the sake of a company and employees who compete for personal gain only. Focus on yourself, do the best job you can, and show others that competitive office politics cannot bring you down.

The relentless perfectionist co-worker

There’s being overly competitive, and then there’s behaving like no one else around you is trying. Perfectionism is not as desirable a trait to hiring managers as many people think, because the fuss over little details can waste time or stress out other co-workers. Perfectionist attitudes might also come packaged with a know-it-all attitude.

Only about 40% of employees who suffer from stress talk to their employer about it, and perfectionism can be a symptom of anxiety over mistakes. Apart from lending an ear if the co-worker is stressed, it might help to find a way to defer those little details back to them. However, if they insist to an illogical degree that you do things exactly their way, or they are pushing busywork onto you in the name of quality assurance, you might be forced to have a more direct conversation or approach human resources.

The work-shirking co-worker

People need help now and then, but when someone grows lazy and confident with putting their work onto you, it’s important to draw a line. Every worker must be responsible for getting their own tasks done, so it helps to speak to this person and establish a limit to how much you can help them. If they’re new to a task or the company and are still adjusting, setting a limit will help them eventually learn on their own and hit their targets without help.

Keep in mind that every place of business has its own style, values, and culture. If you find yourself surrounded by difficult co-workers or a culture that encourages difficult situations, it might be wise to start looking for a new job. You could create a profile so employers can find you on a major job-hunting network, contacting you if they appreciate your sense of business and professionalism. Until then, one or two difficult co-workers might not be so bad after you apply the techniques above.

More career and on-the-job tips:

Starting the job hunt again? Learn how to explain why you left your old job.

Learn how to stop apologizing at work, and what to do instead.

View six career development insights from women in leadership.

Grab a new technique or two from our guide: how better time management can help your career.

Get the full primer of everything you need to know about soft skills.