The Three Most Common Types of Difficult Coworkers

If you have coworkers, there is a decent chance that you consider at least one of them to be difficult to work with. In a previous post, I offered an approach that was based on examining your assumptions about difficult people at work, and then reframing how you interpret their motives. Here, I would like to offer a more direct approach to having difficult conversations with problematic coworkers.

A review of the relevant research revealed that problematic coworkers tend to fall into three broad categories: 1) those who withhold their full effort, 2) those who are chronically negative or pessimistic and 3) those who display some form of inappropriate interpersonal behavior. These three general types appear to cover a wide range of individual possibilities.

What makes a conversation "difficult?" For one, such conversations are uncomfortable for both parties because they address behaviors and reactions that are rarely directly addressed. Instead, people tend to gossip and complain about difficult coworkers behind their backs. Doing so vents some of the frustration and gives the commiserating coworkers something over which to bond. Unfortunately, this approach doesn't tend to result in a resolution of the problems.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Psychology Today.