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Cranky Colleague or Co-Worker Day

Cranky Colleague or Co-Worker Day

Cranky Colleague

Six steps to dealing with difficult co-workers or a cranky colleague

27th October is officially “Cranky Co-worker’s Day” across the world, though perhaps that should be ‘Cranky Colleague Day’ in the UK. It represents a chance to celebrate all your colleagues’ unique quirks, or perhaps an opportunity to learn how to deal with them. Peter Ames, from office and workplace experts Office Genie, looks at how you might be able to deal with a demanding or cranky colleague, calmly and professionally.

Remain calm

Difficult situation 101, and the top tactic recommended by Psychology Today, try your best to keep calm and count to ten when faced with a frustrating situation. Deep breaths and all that. It may sound simple, but taking a pause and breathing properly can really help. It has been scientifically proven to relax your brain. This can stop you reacting badly in the heat of the moment and help you in the following further steps.

 

Seek advice

If someone at work understands the situation, then it can be really beneficial to talk to them. It can help give you perspective, feel understood and release some of the tension. Remember though, there is a fine line between advice and gossip. It doesn’t even have to be someone in the workplace (in many cases it may prove to work out better that way) a friend or family member is often the best person to turn to.

 

Set a good example

Everyone certainly has their unique quirks, if you are finding a cranky colleague rubbing you up the wrong way, make sure you’re not doing the same back to others. It always pays (sometimes quite literally if you are angling for a promotion!) to set the best example you can with your own behaviour. So try to cut out gossip,  lateness, and time-wasting, and other major office irritations.

 

Raise the issue

If things aren’t improving, the next best you can arguably do next is sit down with the person and speak to them about the issue. Just remember:

  • Be calm and rational
  • Never, ever get personal
  • Try to cite actual events and evidence, if appropriate
  • Listen to what others have to say and be understanding
  • Always look to turn the conversation towards a constructive conclusion

 

Depending on the severity of the issue, you may want someone from HR present. There are a great number of resources online about having difficult conversations in the workplace, with ACAS’s guide just about the best.

 

Get serious

If the issue develops to something beyond the ‘cranky co-worker’ or the ‘difficult cranky colleague’, this is definitely the time to escalate the matter. Report the issue to your line manager or HR. Your company should have strong policies about such situations and action can then be taken.

 

If nothing else works

A pair of earphones can go a long way, and help you create a more private space, even in the most distracting of workplaces. This might seem to just be avoiding the issue, but it could help you manage the situation in the short term. No matter how cranky a colleague or co-worker you are dealing with, there should be something above that can help.

Peter Ames writes for OfficeGenie.co.uk, a site for flexible office rental. He covers issues relating to both the workplace and workspace.

 

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