How to Deal With Pesky Co-Workers

Dealing with pesky co-workers doesn't have to leave you feeling drained or cause you to blow your top. Annoying loud talkers, slackers, drama queens and kings and emotional roller coasters are all people that can crop up in any work environment. To deal with them, here are some tricks of the trade.

Instructions

1. Minimize interaction when you can. Though you can't get them fired for being annoying, you can try to distance yourself. If it is possible to stay out of the way of the pesky co-workers, it can be your best avenue to occupational bliss.

2. Speak your mind. Some people are oblivious to personality quirks that can annoy or insult their co-workers. They can sometimes be defused with a strong word or phrase that politely gets your wishes across. Telling a co-worker that his off color jokes are offensive should keep him from repeating them in your presence.

3. Tune them out. When dealing with a loud or non-stop talker, it may be best if you can tune them out. As long as it is appropriate in your work environment, consider listening to your radio or MP3 player with headphones. Most computers are used easily for streaming radio programs as well.

4. Counter negativity. When you have the negative Nellie fouling up the office with a daily diatribe of "woe is me," change the subject or remove yourself from the conversation. Trying too hard to help those who are hung up on how terrible their lives are can only drain you of energy.

5. Take yourself into consideration. Make an assessment of your attitudes at work. If you are somehow contributing to the bad behavior in the workplace, you may need to change some of your reactions to fix the problem.