Steer Clear of Nega

 

 

We spend at least eight hours of the day in the office, or a total of at least 40 hours per week. In these hours, we get exposed to all sorts of people: nice, decent ones, bullies, whiners/complainers, know-it-alls, or people who can possibly be our friends even outside of work.

But more often than not, we interact with people whose nega vibe simply drains the enthusiasm and energy out of us. Admit it: there are more pessimists than optimists. Unless you want to join the negative bandwagon, your Belle de Jour sisters have identified and categorized these insensitive, not-worth-getting-friendly-with co-workers and advice you on how to deal with them.

 

The bully. This person usually works sneakily; he or she uses passive-aggressive tactics to get his or her way. Sometimes the bully will use gossip to his or her advantage; other times he or she is downright rude to not just you, but everyone else who crosses him or her. The worst of it is that he or she gets his or her way.

How to deal: If the rudeness is out of line, elevate the matter to your boss or Human Resources. And when talking to the bully, be firm but civil. Don’t stoop to his or her level—remain decent; people will admire you for it.

 

The whiner. She’s always whining about her workload, her love life, the cold air-conditioning in the office, how the Xerox machine is broken—everything. It doesn’t help that she sits across from you and she always vents at you.

How to deal: Invest in a good pair of head or ear phones and turn up your music a notch higher to drown out her complaining. Don’t encourage her by listening to her. Instead, tell her “It’s too bad, maybe you should inform admin or HR about it” and then focus on your work. Remember, you are not her psychologist or counselor.

 

The gossip. She knows everything that’s going on in the office—everything non-work-related, that is. She knows who is having an affair with whom, who is dating whom, who’s getting married and who had just broken up with his or her ex. The worst thing is, she also pries you to divulge details about your personal life.

How to deal: Suffice to say, this person should not even be considered as a friend—or a potential one. Always watch what you say around her, as your words can be misconstrued or taken out of context. Keep your interactions with her to a minimum and be as professional as possible.

 

The know-it-all. During meetings, this person always has something to say—even if what she says are nonsense. She obviously enjoys being the center of attention, to the extent that she takes credit for your work.

How to deal: If the above-mentioned happens, confront her about it by saying you didn’t appreciate what she did. Again, be civil, professional, and make sure the tone of your voice is moderated. Do your best to be deadma to her smart-alecky ways and if you get assigned to work with her again, request for a change. When doing so, explain how she’s not being a teamplayer by hogging all the credit—it would be better if you have documents or emails to back up your claim.

 

Pictures taken from www.thesun.co.uk