How to Deal with a Difficult Work Colleague IM HIRED

How to Deal with a Difficult Work Colleague Team work makes the dream work Collaboration and team work is an essential part of any role and most of us are quick to declare in our CVs how we are able to work with a variety of people and deal with difficult situationsbut easier said than done. When youre in the office for 40 hours a week (or most likely a lot more.) Having a co-worker that you clash with, can be a nightmare. First instinct might be to try and avoid that person at all cost but is that really going to work when youre confine to a cubicle 10 feet from theirs? These are some tips to follow if you find yourself stuck with a colleague who is never wrong and always opposed to your ideas. You dont have to be Best Friend (or friends at all for that matter) Yes, in an ideal situation you would enjoy being with your colleagues and would want to spend time with them outside the office. But in reality people you work with arent your best friends. As long as you have a professional working relationship sometimes thats the best you can ask for. So if you dont like your co-workers taste in music, youre never interested in their weekend plans or you cant stand constantly seeing their holiday pictures. Then just stick to work related or neutral topics. You need to realise you arent going to like everyone and thats absolutely fine. Discuss the Issue You may not have  approached the subject of a difficult colleague previously because you dont like the idea of conflict, but a discussion done correctly shouldnt led to an argument. If youre required to work with this person regularly or for an extended period consider sitting down and discussing the issue. Everyone works differently and putting two people together who have conflicting processes is normally where issues arise. Avoid using email communication or speaking in a large group and instead keep the conversation face to face and private. Compromise is key so put an action plan together that you both can work with without butting heads. Find a Common Ground Really review why you and this co-worker havent been able to form a productive relationship. Identifying  the issue is the first stage to overcoming it. If youre constantly disagreeing on a particular subject or ways of working then why not involve a third party to mediate the situation. Another person maybe better equipped to influence and support you find common ground. A Change is needed If a resolution cant come from a simple decision, then contemplate your location in the workplace. Whilst you wont be able to completely change job roles, think about opportunities to work on assignments or projects that would separate you from that co-worker. Avoidance shouldnt be the first solution. But if your interactions are progressively getting worse then time apart might be the best thing. Speak to a Manager The final option is to escalate  the situation to management. If all other methods have failed then a senior member of staff or HR might be needed to support you in dealing with this difficult co-worker. They may be able to offer ideas or suggestions for you to work on independently. Or you could arrange a meeting with the team to discuss better ways to successfully work as a team.