No matter who you are or where you work, there is bound to be a co-worker that you dislike. It is inevitable unless you work alone or in a very small office. It can be difficult to work with someone that you dislike or that even dislikes you. Here are a few tips if you find yourself in this situation.
- Remain Professional. Remember, you are at your place of employment to do a job. You do not want to let disagreements or friction with co-workers to get in the way of the big picture. You do not have to be buddies with everyone you work with, but you must always retain your professionalism. Do not get into squabbles, gossip, or talk bad about a co-worker. Even if that co-worker dislikes you and does these things, refrain from falling into that trap. Simply remain professional and keep your eye on the prize – your job.
- Choose Your Battles. You may find yourself in a situation where you disagree about a work-related issue. You may completely disagree with something that the co-worker has said or done. You may have a much better way of accomplishing something or even know for a fact that something the co-worker has said is incorrect. In any of these situations remember to choose your battles. Not everything has to be a big deal, pointed out to the boss, or an embarrassing moment for the co-worker. Be careful in the way you point out errors or mistakes. Offer to assist or provide your opinion in a positive way. If you battle at every little thing it will only end up shedding a bad light on you, not your co-worker.
- Kill Them With Kindness. One of the best ways to deal with a co-worker that you dislike or vice versa is to be nice. Sometimes being overly nice will make you feel better than the opposite. Plus, why arrive at work each day with tension? This will only make you feel bad each day and no one wants to spend their work day stressed out or experience more tension than necessary. Smile, be helpful, or just be kind. As mentioned above, you do not have to be friends but you should be professional.
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Yes, it is another cliché but, it fits.
Originally published on Experts Pages on 7/15/13
