Everyone is different, which makes it hard to determine the best way to deal with someone. If you’re having difficulty with a person, the best way to help is consider who you’re dealing with, and go from there.
Types of Coworkers
The Know It All
This person is generally always right, and knows it. When you’re having issues with a person like this, the best way to deal with it is come to them calm and collected. In private, tell them that you feel you’ve been having issues, and you need them to be understanding. Coming to the know it all with a calm relaxed manner puts them at ease.
The Team Player/Enthusiast
These people are very excited, and always willing to help. If you ever feel you’re having an issue, the team player will be willing to fix it immediately, to keep everyone happy and eager.
The Forgetter
It’s common to find one person in your office completely forgets assignments or responsibilities and completely abandons them. This can cause problems and stress for you and your other co-workers. If you’re working together, be sure to update them with progress reports along the way, and expect them to reciprocate. This will ensure their work is getting done, and they’ll feel as though they’re keeping up with everyone else.
The Joker
Some people just take work too lightly. If you have a problem with the joker’s comedy hour, be sure to tell them in private that you find their jokes distracting. Be careful in your wording, as some jokers take things very personally.
The Turtle
Some people…. are incapable….. of speaking at a normal speed. Not only does this kill your attention span, but it makes it impossible to get anything done. The best way to avoid issues with these people is to communicate via e-mail. That way they can take as long as they’d like to think about what they’d want to say, and you can read it at your own pace.
The Steamroller
There’s one in every office. The person that’s willing to squash you to get ahead. Stay wary of this person, as they can cause problems you never even thought of! If you come across an issue with a steamroller, being straight and to the point keeps things nice and simple.
The Do It All
Everyone thinks they can conquer the world. Unfortunately, some people actually try to do that by taking on more than they can handle. If you notice that this person seems stressed and you’ve got some extra time, ask them if they require any assistance. Not only will this let the Do-It-All know you care about them, but it will also keep their stress levels down.
The Expert
Some people are naturally modest about what they are capable of. Generally, these are the people that can do anything, without stress or issue. The best way to deal with this co-worker is to make them aware of how much you appreciate their assistance. They will fully appreciate your gratitude.
The Scatterbrain
As hard as some people try, it can be impossible for them to stay organized. To prevent any issues you can foresee when dealing with a scatterbrain, organize your information to the point where it’s almost impossible to unorganize it. You may not receive it back that way, but the organization system you had in place should help you to put it back together in no time.
The Whiner
In every group there’s someone who’s got something to complain about. Nothing is ever good enough for some people, and it just seems to get worse as you get to know them. If you have an issue with this person, discuss the problem very professionally, and don’t allow them the opportunity to complain about it. Once you’ve expressed your issue, if they seem uninterested, explain the importance to them, and they should get the point.
Remember, regardless of who you’re dealing with you should always keep it in a professional manner at work. This will keep things from getting complicated and confusing.