We’ve all been there: it’s Monday morning, and you’re just trying to enjoy a cup of coffee and get a handle on the workload for the week. Your coworker sidles up to your desk and starts dishing all the dirt the office has to offer. This is your toxic colleague, who creates a toxic work environment.
Do You Have a Toxic Colleague?
They make a few pointed remarks that come off as passive-aggressive and sour your mood instantly. Whether the rumours they’re spreading are true or not doesn’t matter—the air starts to become toxic, and it’s harder for you to concentrate on the task at hand. Perhaps you started the day feeling motivated and upbeat (quite a feat for a Monday), but now you’re feeling uneasy and ready for the weekend…in five more days.
A toxic colleague can take many forms: gossipers, green-eyed monsters, self-absorbed opportunists, poor contributors, and more. They are easy to spot, but not so easy to manage. Everyone’s experienced the negative impact of a toxic colleague, and the truth is that these relationships can throw off your productivity and overall happiness at the office. So, how do you cope with this negative energy during the workday? Here are six strategies for keeping the negativity out.
Toxic Managers
If a manager exhibits toxic behaviour, you may need to take more drastic measures, such as hiring an ethics investigation lawyer to represent your interests. A lawyer can help you assess your situation accurately from a legal standpoint, enabling you to protect your rights in the workplace. In some cases, having legal representation is the only way to find justice due to the complexity of the law.
Understand the Problem
First, think about what the problem is. Does your coworker take all the credit for your hard work? Do they avoid doing their share and leave you swamped? Or do they complain and gossip all the time, making it difficult to concentrate and feel content at work? Do they complain about people to HR every other day? Whatever the issue is, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of what’s bothering you so you can devise the appropriate solution.
Don’t Take it Personally.
We tend to think everything is about us, but when it comes to a toxic colleague, it’s not usually personal. Toxic behaviour often stems from insecurity and unhappiness and is generally not personal. If you’re taking every slight personally, think about why your coworker is lashing out—the answer is probably not you or your behaviour. If it is, you may need to consider whether your behaviour is toxic as well!
Stop Enabling
You may be part of the problem without knowing it by enabling the behaviour you loathe. If you’re carrying the weight of a coworker who never seems to do their fair share, it’s time to stop picking up the slack. If you can’t stand the gossip your coworker spreads daily, stop engaging. You need to let them face the consequences of their behaviour and stop unwittingly enabling them to continue their toxic actions.
Focus on Your Reactions
We can’t control the actions of toxic people, but it’s up to us how we react to them. Instead of stressing out about how your coworker is acting, bring the focus in and consider how you can respond to the situation positively. Can you turn a jealous comment into a positive conversation, even complimenting your coworker on something they’ve done well? Turning a toxic conversation around can disarm a negative person and prompt them to reflect on their own words.
Give Communication a Chance
If you have a toxic coworker, you may not have tried talking to them. Give communication a chance! Talking privately with your coworker about what can be done to solve the problem you’re having with their behaviour can sometimes work—they may not be aware of how toxic they have been. You can draw inspiration from the tactics of international peacekeepers – be direct yet neutral, and explore ways to resolve the issue without escalating it.
Put Some Distance
If nothing else seems to be working, it may be time to put some distance between yourself and your toxic coworker. You may have to deal with them in some circumstances, but the more you can avoid the negative energy, the better.
Understand Your Rights
Sometimes, it can be easy to see that your efforts are not only going unrewarded but are becoming expected. If you feel this is the case, you should seek out top national labour law attorneys for employers. They will be able to guide you through your rights and help you see that you are being taken advantage of.
Thinking Critically About Toxic Behaviour
Often, we rush to conclusions and make assumptions about others, including toxic coworkers. Empathy and a little thought can go a long way in creating a toxic situation better for everyone involved. The next time your toxic coworker gets going, stop for a moment and think. What are they feeling? Why are they acting this way? People who display inappropriate or negative behaviour are often grappling with some personal issues, and a little assistance and kindness can go a long way. As an example, functional family therapy programs (FFT) for at-risk youth have been shown to reduce felony crimes by up to 34.9% and recidivism rates by 20% in communities using this approach. We can apply these same principles to some toxic coworkers: sometimes, kindness and understanding are the best way to reduce toxic behaviour in the workplace.
