Who Annoys You At Your Office
The Gossiper, The Slacker, The Hypochondriac, The Kiss-ass?
SnagAJob.com, a job site for hourly workers, recently conducted an online poll to find just how Americans rate office stereotypes on the irritation scale. According to the 7,000 people who responded to the poll last month, the “slacker” and the “kiss-up” tied for the most annoying person to work with. Third on the list of annoying co-workers was the “gossip hound,” which 18.4% said was the most annoying co-worker. The “loud talker” was deemed most annoying by 11.8% of participants and the “hypochondriac” was ranked worst by 4.6%.
- The Loud Phone-Talker. Obviously the first step is to pull them aside quietly and ask them to lower their voice when using the phone. Or you can hold up a sign that says, ‘Please turn volume down’.
- The Hang-Arounder. When confronting the co-worker who chronically lingers to chat when you’re busy, try standing up when they enter your office or cube. The unspoken message of your body language will clearly tell him or her to keep it brief and head for the door.
- The Idea Stealer. There is a strong possibility that this thief can’t distinguish between a good idea and a bad one. Somewhere along the way, slip in a really bad idea and let the jerk steal that. Beware that this might only encourage the thief to become worse.
- The Bully. Remember, you’re not in high school anymore. Hold your ground and refuse to be bullied. They’ll usually back off over time.
Difficult people don’t always know they’re being difficult. People generally don’t have a very high level of self-awareness, so specific and constructive feedback is important. Try to understand where the behavior is coming from, and tailor your response to that.
