The 5 Worst Types of Co-Workers And How to Deal with Them

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Being an excellent worker is not only about doing a good job and completing your tasks on time, but also about learning to deal with co-workers that can affect your productivity and ability to look responsible in front of your boss.  These are the 5 worst type of co-workers found at the office and recommendations on how to deal with them:

The Invisible Man

This is the co-worker type that always seems to be missing in action when you need them the most.  You often find yourself walking around the office in search of them and pulling them back to their desk.

How to Deal with Them

Confront them directly.  Let them know that their disappearance is causing you to do an unfair share of the workload.  If necessary, talk with your superior but try to deal with the problem amongst yourselves first.

The Hot Potato Player

This co-worker will always be playing “hot potato” with their assignments or phone calls, passing them off to other people as quickly as possible.

How to Deal with Them

First make sure whether or not you’re supposed to be responsible for the hot potato player.  If you are, then you should have every right to approach them directly and let them know what they should be doing.  If not, approach a supervisor and let them know kindly that this type of behavior is interrupting your work productivity.

The Procrastinator

Almost everyone knows one of these co-workers.  They are always leaving work off to the last minute and never gives you enough time to go over their assignments.

How to Deal with Them

First you should approach the procrastinator and let them know how their behavior is affecting your ability to complete assignments.  Be polite and give them friendly reminders, preferably in person so that they realize how serious you are.  If this fails, you might want to try turning your assignments “incomplete,” stating “Information unavailable from [X's] Department.”

The Micromanager

This co-worker tries to take control over every aspect of a project, even when it isn’t their responsibility.  They always seem to be in your cubicle looking over your shoulder, ensuring that everything you type is something they have dictated.

How to Deal with Them

Try not to overreact and blow your top.  Though the Micromanager can become very frustrating, try to hint that you prefer to work more independently.  Let them know that as soon as you’re done, you will send the assignment to them to look over.  By suggesting this, they will be out of your hair while still feeling in control of their assignment.

The Competitor

The Competitor is someone we all know.  They try to make everything about winning and losing and always seem to bring up the stress level of everyone in the office.

How to Deal with Them

Let them know that you are not interested in competing.  You could say something like, “[X], I’m sorry but I prefer to work independently and manage my own time schedule.”

Tagged as: co-workers, jobs