Workplace harmony and relationships are never easy. While many of us strive to be the best in our work, we unknowingly exhibit certain behaviors that can make our workplace toxic. This is also observable in some of your teammates. With this, we’re bringing you a list of 11 behaviors that may annoy your coworkers, for you to be self-aware and, at the same time, know how to deal with coworkers who exhibit some behaviors.
11. Credit Stealer
Ever had a brilliant idea only to hear someone else present this as their own? That’s the credit-stealing colleague speaking, who takes credit for their work that will make most coworkers annoyed. This behavior is also known as overclaiming, which can damage a team’s morale and motivation. To fix this, document everyone’s contributions in a shared document or follow up with a summary email after each meeting.
10. Passive-Aggressive Communicator
That backhanded compliment or the sarcastic “no offense” statement is just some poor choice of words. It’s an indirect hostility that manifests as giving silent treatment, missing a deadline, or spreading rumors. That creates a toxic environment of less trust and anxiety around the person. If you experienced this with a coworker, remain calm as the aggressor craves an emotional reaction, which will make the situation worse for everyone in the team.
9. The Micromanager
There’s always that desire for control or fear of failure in office settings; with that, micromanagement becomes a workplace frustration for many employees. This style of being excessively overwrought removes the creativity and erodes the trust of workers. Overall, this may lead to a drop in productivity and morale of the team. This can also lead to burnout and cause high turnover rates in the work setting. If you happen to be in a managerial role, just focus on delegating tasks and trusting your team to deliver good results. Don’t forget to provide support without confusing it for intrusion.
8. The Open-Office Broadcaster
There’s always that one coworker who takes a call on speakerphone and narrates their thoughts to no one. That’s a distraction to the team, as this shatters concentration, which would make it hard for many to regain focus. Be a respectful office neighbor by using a headset for calls or, better yet, take them in a designated break area.
7. The Lunch Thief
This may sound like something you’ve watched on a sitcom, but it really happens in real life. Workers often find their lunch stolen from the office fridge, which is frustrating. It’s a violation of trust and a lack of respect for the property of others. Protect your lunch by considering an opaque bag or a container with your name clearly marked. You’ll spot your lunch thief in no time at all.
6. The Constant Interrupter
Being talked over in meetings is plain rude. It leads to high error rates and exhaustion of the team. With this, use hand gestures when you speak in the office, which signals that you haven’t finished your thought. If this problem still persists, talk to that person privately by respectfully telling them the problem and that you’d love to hear their insights after you’re done talking.
5. The “Reply All” Abuser
It may be annoying to many employees when their company-wide email is an endless chain of unnecessary responses. That’s some coworkers abusing the “reply all” button, which is a productivity killer. That’s a lesson that before you hit that “reply all,” consider if every person on the thread needs to see your response. You can directly reply to the sender so as not to interrupt the notifications of others.
4. The Personal Space Invader
Watch out, you may be standing too close when talking, or you’re leaving your belongings all over your desk. That’s a common workplace annoyance since you’re a personal space invader. But if you experience this from a colleague who gets too close, create a subtle barrier by slowly moving your desk or placing something on your desk. If that doesn’t work, then politely request that they give you more space.
3. The Chronic Complainer
While we occasionally vent to someone, a coworker who does nothing but complain can drain the energy in the room. This constant negativity actually rewires you and your other coworkers’ brains for negativity by making you critical and pessimistic. Protect and stand for others by steering conversations to solutions.
2. The Fragrance Fanatic
There’s always that colleague whose perfume or cologne arrives before them. It also lingers in the air long enough after they leave. It’s annoying for coworkers who get irritated by scented products because they may trigger headaches and asthma. Some workplaces even implement fragrance-free policies to accommodate those employees with sensitivities. With that, be considerate with your coworkers and opt for a light application.
1. Virtual Meeting Multitasker
You’re not being slick by answering emails and scrolling through social media during work video calls. This divides not only your attention, but it also shows disrespect to your colleagues. Stay engaged during calls by closing other tabs and putting your phone out of reach. Actively participate in the conversations.