We spend most of our time at work, so it is very important to maintain good relationships with colleagues. But there are people with whom it is better not to make contact or be limited to formal communication.
1. The bolt
The office would turn into a boring, depressing place if there were no people in it to whom you can tell about the success of a child, a gift from a husband, or yesterday’s trip to the club. But there are people who are not limited to this. They are ready to talk incessantly about themselves, the weather, traffic jams, to report “the latest news” from the life of the boss and colleagues. They monopolize your time, interfering with work and life. With such talkers, it is better to immediately clearly build boundaries and stay away from them.
2. All-knowing
They have an answer ready for everything: “Yes, this is elementary! How can you not know this? What are you, a doppelgänger?” They look down and are so sure of themselves that sometimes you feel like you really are “a little bit behind”. And even if they are wrong (and this happens quite often), they will never admit it. It will be your fault, not theirs. Stay away from such people. They will never accept you as an equal, and the most you can lay claim to next to them is the life of a lackey.
3. Procrastinators
These people are ready to do anything but work. “Did your husband break his arm? Now I’ll find the phone number of the best traumatologist.” “Your birthday is tomorrow? Try to cook a super pie, now I will send a link to the recipe. Important matters are postponed because someone needs to buy an Italian shirt, someone needs to choose the optimal model of a coffee machine, someone needs help ordering textbooks. With them, you never know if the job will get done. They also distract those around them endlessly from business.
4. Victims
They are constantly afraid, humiliated, suffer, submit, grovel before the leadership and periodically go on strike. The role of the victim is very beneficial for them. On the one hand, they receive a portion of pity from colleagues. On the other hand, they refuse to take responsibility for their work, attributing failures to circumstances or blaming others. They always have an excuse – “I was sick”, “I missed my flight”, “The car broke down” and so on. During this time, you will be doing their work.
5. Instigators
Peace and harmony is not for them. They all the time need to build intrigues, set one against the other. There is no time for instigators to work – all the time and energy are spent on corporate wars. If you muster up the courage to reprimand them or point out shortcomings in their work, tons of bile will be poured on you. It is better not to mess with the instigators. They are completely ineffective as team players, and their intrigues reduce the effectiveness of other employees.