Industry:HR Compliance Added By:Admin Posted On:Nov. 5, 2020
A workplace suffers when it has people who constantly nitpick, nag and cause trouble for others. They may spread gossip or keep finding reasons to avoid work. This article gives five tips on how to deal with toxic people at work, so you can handle them, limit their effect and protect your own focus.
Sharing a workplace with toxic people adds stress to your day. Where you can, keep some physical distance from the person causing problems. Staying away from a colleague can be hard for many reasons, but it is worth trying.
You may be able to move your desk or work somewhere you can focus in peace, away from the drama. If breaks are the problem, take your lunch outside. That way you avoid the toxic person and get some quiet time for yourself.
Help others understand that there are professional boundaries at work. Let go of the idea that work is a place to share every personal experience with colleagues. Keeping things professional saves time for your work and helps you focus and stay productive.
This may seem self-centered to others, but look at the bigger picture: you are not doing anything wrong. Everyone at some point needs to stand firm for their career, their income and their future.
It is unfair to shut someone out completely, even if they are toxic. Blocking a colleague entirely goes against professionalism and workplace ethics. Instead, set boundaries that keep their negativity away from you. A toxic coworker is not like a toxic friend; you cannot simply stop answering the phone.
Let the person speak, share ideas (even weak ones) and give input (even if it is off base or unkind), and do not interrupt.
Giving them a chance to speak has benefits. If others see how toxic the person is, that is a bonus. It can also calm situations that might otherwise blow up, because no one likes being shut out. You do not want to be seen as the one who will not listen. Show them the respect their position deserves so you can ask for the same.
The best way to counter negative, draining people is to spend time with people who lift you up and give you energy. Make a conscious choice to spend more time with the upbeat, constructive people at work. They balance out the toxicity.
Look inward as well. Notice your self-talk, the many small things you tell yourself every day. When you catch yourself thinking negative things, which may echo what a toxic person has said to you, reframe them in a positive way.
Life is not always fair. You may have to work alongside toxic people throughout your career. You cannot change them, so it is up to you to decide how you deal with them and move on.
Even if you cannot change jobs or companies, you can move past toxic people mentally. If they are not helping you, they do not deserve your attention, and they are certainly not worth losing sleep over.