Do you love your job but hate your co-workers? Although it's impossible to see eye-to-eye with everyone, you must learn how to work with people. If not, you'll never get ahead in your career. So, how can you learn to work with people you can't work with? Well, it's workplace rehab time! Here's what our approved career experts had to say about poor workplace relationships:
Change Your Attitude
Julie Erickson of My Right Fit Job suggests adjusting your attitude. "Become more open-minded, and start searching for common ground with them," she said. If that's impossible, you might need to start looking for another job.Avoid The Personal Stuff
"The topic you and your co-workers don't see eye-to-eye on makes a big difference," said Lisa Adams of Fresh Air Careers. "If it's personal preferences and topics outside of work, you'll need to learn to live with that and possibly go to a policy of not talking as much about personal items. Keep it neutral."Know Your Behavior Style
"Being aware of your behavioral style and how it differs from that of your co-workers is the key to effective communication and workplace harmony," said Norine Dagliano of EKM Inspirations. She recommends taking the Myers-Briggs or DiSC assessment to learn more about yourself and strategies for more effectively connecting with your co-workers.Learn To Adapt
"Assuming you have been fairly specific with request to your peers, you will have to really think through whether or not the things you don’t see eye-to-eye on impact your work," said Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of Next Chapter New Life. "If it doesn’t and it falls into the category of annoying, you need to adapt; if it impacts your work try going back to them and outline the work impact."Start Listening
"Stop 'talking' and start 'listening,' said Bruce Hurwitz of HSStaffing. "To quote Shakespeare, 'The fault, dear Brutus, may not be in the stars but in ourselves…'" Of course, if they are all of one type, and you don’t fit in, moving on may be your only option, he said. But do not quit until you have a new job. All you will be doing is replacing sleepless nights about work aggravation with sleepless nights about how you are going to pay your bills."Go To The Top
"If you're at the end of your rope with a coworker and have had no luck, it's time to reach out to a manager," said Ben Eubanks of UpStartHR. "These kinds of experiences can poison a workplace if left untreated, so take the high road and keep working to get it solved." Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles:- 5 Tips For Dealing With An Annoying Co-Worker
- How To Build Positive Workplace Relationships
- How To Work Your Bad Boss
