Defend Yourself from Surly Colleagues

We all know that a big part of being an office professional is being able to get along with others. You are respectful, polite and reliable, yet inevitably you will encounter people at work who simply don’t like you for one reason or another. Don’t take it personally.

Human beings are complicated and sometimes people don’t like you for reasons completely beyond your control. You may remind them of a horrible ex-friend or that obnoxious cousin. Your accent or fashion style may remind them of someone who broke their heart. Whatever the reason, it is important to address these types of issues head on. When a coworker is negatively affecting your reputation at work it is necessary to fight back.

This article explains, “Call out your back-stabber. If you sit and fester over their betrayal, you’re going to drive yourself crazy. You might think that ignoring the issue will help everyone move past it. But their ‘save their own skin’ maneuver deserves to be addressed. The best way to move on is to settle your differences. You need to do this quickly and privately.”

Calling out your detractors can feel intimidating, but being able to stick up for yourself at work is a necessary evil. You can, however, do it with class and grace. You’ll be surprised by how easily conflicts with colleagues can be resolved and even lead to stronger bonds on every level. Make the effort.

Photo courtesy of The Consortium.