Five co-workers you should avoid
Posted September 23, 2012 12:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – They’re called “office politicians” and they can usually make life at work miserable or even worse, ruin your career.
In a recent survey, nearly half of all workers polled said they sometimes get involved in office politics, while 39 per cent say they are always a neutral party.
But 15 per cent are “active campaigners” — they feel the need to gossip about others to get ahead.
Ashleigh Demulder with Accountemps says there is also the “office spy” — the one who takes credit for your work, never takes responsibility and sucks-up.
“The simplest way to avoid conflict with co-workers is to learn about their different challenges on the job and guard your comments. Never say anything about someone that you wouldn’t say to him or her directly,” she explains.
“The key is really to stay above the fray and not get caught up in the little trivial things that can impact your relationships and your work productivity.”
Demulder adds the biggest downfall of playing office politics is it affects your productivity, which will likely be noticed before anything else.
Top five co-workers you should avoid
The Gossip Hound – This person loves spreading rumours and can often be found hovering around the water cooler, speculating about a variety of sensitive issues.
The Credit Thief – This person loves the spotlight and relishes taking credit for other people’s work. When collaborating with a Credit Thief, document your contributions.
The Sycophant – “Shameless” is this person’s middle name — he or she will offer fulsome flattery to anyone who is in a position of power. Most managers can see through them.
The Saboteur – Watch your back when working with this person, who loves to play the blame game and make others look bad. Limit your interaction with this manipulator and make sure to stand up for yourself.
The Adviser – This person is often closely aligned with an executive and serves as his or her eyes and ears.
