Difficult Workplace Personalities and How to Deal With Them

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Lea McLeod, GoLocalPDX Careers Expert

Tabitha rolled her eyes when the diva in the next cube ranted on and on (once again) about how big his workload was, how much more he had to do than anyone else, and how little the manager in charge attended to his pleas for help.

It was all she could do to not throw a shoe at him.

Whether it’s a Drama Queen, a Gossip Girl, or Chicken Little, negative co-workers can muck up the work place. They can make any job seem harder than it already is.

And in today’s open workplaces where any conversation can take over the airwaves, they can hold greater sway than when they used to be confined to boxed in offices.

Knowing how to manage these social misfits – and avoid becoming one – just takes a little savvy and these helpful tips.

The Drama Queen (or King)

As Tabitha learned, this person loves to dramatize anything about the situation – for better or worse – and make sure everyone knows about it. You’ll hear them talk about how they have the biggest workload, the baddest client, or the worst case of the flu.

Whatever story is being told, they’ve got one that’s better. The Drama Diva is all about superlatives, in the most annoying way.

They can be a huge time and energy suck for others in the office. Listening to the stories, and being distracted from one’s own work, can be incredibly frustrating.

Drama Queens and Kings love attention, and being in the center of it. The best way to mute their volume is to ignore them.

Instead of reacting with shock, awe, and sympathy at a Drama Queen story, simply turn away and avoid reacting. Do not engage. Once the drama diva knows others won’t be sucked into their personal vortex, he or she will go find other people who will.

Gossip Guys (or Gals)

No organization is at a loss for “news” that makes it way through the grapevine. From pending mergers, to layoff rumors, there’s more than enough to keep the rumor gristmill turning. And it doesn’t take much to set it into motion.

The thing about Gossip Guys is that they rarely consider “fact” when spreading rumors. Stories ricochet through organizations at amazing speed, with few stopping to ask if the news is actually true.

The best way to deal with Gossip Guys is to call them on it. Ask specifically if what they are sharing is fact.

When a story is shared, a great response is, “Oh, that’s interesting. I’m wondering if that is a fact, or if you heard that from someone else.”

Another strategy for shutting out gossip is to express helplessness.

A response such as, “You know, I really can’t help you with that issue. Excuse me while I jump on a phone call I have to take” works well.

And if they really don’t get the message, try, “You know, I don’t engage in rumor and speculation. Please don’t involve me in these conversations in the future.”

We all train people how to treat us. When Gossip Guys are clearly told their audience isn’t interested, they’ll stop coming around.

Chicken Little

Given the number of hours the typical American works, and how much stress each purports to be under, Chicken Littles make a workplace worse than it already is.

As in the child’s fairy tale, the workplace version of this bird is filled with gloom and doom. And they love to share it with those around them.

Think about throwing a wet blanket over a roaring fire. That’s Chicken Little.

The winning salesperson announces a new account. Chicken Little counters with, “Oh, I’ve heard that client is a real pain.”

Going to Seattle for the weekend? “Oh I can’t stand how gray it is up there.”

Just thrilled you’ve completed a killer assignment for your new manager?

“Oh, the boss never gives a thumbs up on the first submission. Prepare yourself for a bunch of rewrites.”

All of which is exhausting. The best way to deal with Chicken Little is to provide some feedback about their bad news bears perspective.

“Hey Marty, when someone shares news they’re excited about, your comments can feel like a real disappointment to them. Maybe you could say something more upbeat next time.”

Some Chicken Littles may not even be aware of how negatively they show up.

Working with difficult people doesn’t need to make the office a dread fest. A bit of assertiveness and some light coaching can mitigate the impact of these three difficult office personality types.

Lea McLeod, M.A. coaches professionals to get more done, be more confident and deal with workplace issues like challenging bosses and overwhelming workloads. Her career insights have been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Mashable, Yahoo, and Business Insider. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Follow her on Twitter. If you’re ready to take action, get started with her free 21 Days to Peace at Work e-series.