While some colleagues will motivate you and bring out the best in you, others can be negative, exhausting, and downright toxic. Here are 7 types of toxic people you should avoid at all cost…
In 2018, Olivet Nazarene University conducted a study and asked approximately 2000 Americans what annoyed them most about their workplace. Surprisingly, for 73% of respondents, it was their co-workers. The study elaborated that, on average, a person is annoyed by 2-5 colleagues on a daily basis. These “annoying coworkers” are also called toxic people.
These people add no value to your work and only contribute to their toxicity by their loudness, cribbing nature, or bullying behavior. It is best to avoid these toxic co-workers. However, if avoiding them is impossible then it is important you handle them carefully…
What do you mean by toxic co-workers?
Talking to job portal Monster.com, Kathy Caprino, founder of career-coaching firm Ellia Communications, says that any form of backstabbing, bullying, discrimination, narcissism, cruelty or misbehavior is toxic in nature. They are also toxic as they are poison to your system and your organization’s ecosystem, making it hard to work with them. They affect your mental peace, work performance and will demotivate you no end.
Vote: The Most Dangerous Types Of Toxic Co-Workers
Let us explore the 7 types of toxic co-workers you should avoid:
1. The Credit Thief
You are the one who came up with this really cool, out-of-the-box idea and worked hard to achieve it, but someone else took all the credit for your work. It could be your line manager or your teammate. This behavior can come back to haunt you during performance appraisal and stop you from getting that promotion you deserve.
How to cope: Take ownership of your ideas by emailing them to your boss and other seniors. Also, make sure to present it well and give regular updates on its progress so that they know it is you who is doing all the hard work and stop credit thieves in their tracks.
Watch: How To Deal With Toxic Coworkers
2. The Know-It-Alls
They are the ones who believe they know everything and it is their privilege to tutor everybody around. Teresa Marzolph, founder of Culture Engineered, tells The Huffington Post that know-it-alls live under the impression that they are smart and others are not. Hence, when something goes wrong, it is never their fault. The know-it-all’s loyalty is to their ego. Your career and dignity is secondary.
How to cope: As these people thrive when they make others feel inferior, it is better to steer clear from them.
3. The Procrastinator
This category of a colleague will do everything but work during office hours. You will find them browsing e-commerce websites or updating their social media profiles but rarely any office work. Their laziness cuts into your own productivity. They might also disturb you with questions that are not related to work or talk to you about the latest movies so that they can pass time during office hours.
How to cope: It’s best to tell them that you are busy with your work or they will rob you of your energy and focus towards your office work.
4. The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
These people will leave you baffled as they have both a good and bad side. While they may be helpful at times, they can get nasty when their mood changes. A Monster.com report terms this category as someone who has an alter ego that makes him behave nastily toward their colleagues—putting other people down and insulting them.
How to cope: Try to avoid or keep your interactions with such a person to as few as possible.
5. The Complainers
Some people are so negative that, despite having everything, they are never happy in life. They may have a great job with a great salary and perks but they like to complain and crib about the tiniest and most insignificant things. They will be the first to complain “the AC is not working properly or the coffee served is too strong.”
They like to crib about each and everything and hence create a negative environment.
How to cope: There are only two things you can do with complainers. Either spend a minimum amount of time with them or try to be positive and constantly remind them about their accomplishments so that your positivity rubs off on them too.
6. The Gossip-mongers
They are known for starting rumors or discussing people’s personal lives. They know who is sleeping with whom, who is the boss’s pet or who is facing problems in their married life. The gossiper knows it and loves to talk about it too. They may appear friendly and trustworthy, especially when you are new. However, if you are found in their company, they can wreck your reputation as well.
How to cope: You can handle gossip-mongers tactfully by telling them that you don’t appreciate their gossip or the negative things that they talk about with other colleagues.
7. Liars & Back-stabbers
They are the ones who will either lie or spill your secrets to manipulate other people and climb the corporate ladder. They are the least trustworthy. They will first try to win your confidence and pretend to be your friend but when the time comes they will cheat or backstab you to win brownie points.
How to cope: Distance yourself from these toxic coworkers to stay focused, happier and stress-free at work.
Who you hang around with really does matter both in your personal and professional life. Hence, stay around those who motivate you, inspire you and help you to grow and spread your wings.
Lost Your Job? Now You Can Earn MONEY From The Comfort Of Your Home
Its Time To Dispel The Myth Of The Rich And Successful Silicon Valley Wunderkind
TeamViewer India Redefines Business Connectivity In The Era Of Remote Working
Deepak Sahni’s Healthians Reinvents Preventive Healthcare To Suit Pandemic Needs
The Muni Method — A Vision India’s New National Education Policy Mirrors, But Doesn’t Match
India’s Healthcare System Prides Itself On Medical Tourism But Remains Inaccessible To Most
Which Jobs Are Durable Enough To Endure This Crisis, And The Next?
