Do your coworkers drive you crazy? Listen, you’re not alone. Every workplace has them: coworkers with the unique ability to make your job both more frustrating and entertaining at the same time. These are the cubicle-mates who so perfectly embody workplace clichés that they practically beg to be immortalized on the silver screen. There are the coworkers you should get to know and then there are those that you need to learn how to deal with.
The Overachiever
The Overachiever will always want to one-up you. Anything you do she will want to do bigger, better, and quicker. But behind that perfect facade is often someone who is seriously lacking in self-confidence. Blow the Overachiever out of the water by staying calm and confident. She’ll be mystified by your positive vibes and the satisfaction that you derive from your work. Your happiness and success just might keep her up a night or two—a welcome payback for the many times she’s tried to trump you in front of the boss.
The Slacker
Sneaky and slippery, Slackers are infinitely smarter than they look. In fact, their workplace goal is often to ply you into doing all or part of their job for them. How do they do this? By acting dumb, ill-informed, or just plain lazy. Make them take responsibility for their performance and their actions. If necessary, allow them to fall flat on their face in front of the boss in order to prove both their incompetency and your unwillingness to cover for them anymore.
The Kiss-Up
The Kiss-Up uses compliments, praise, and lots of saccharine sweetness to get noticed by the bosses and move ahead of her coworkers. The Kiss-Up is hard to combat because she can make even the nicest person look a little lackluster. Thwart her by striving to forge real relationships with your boss and coworkers so that you can give honest opinions that are respected—whether or not they’re accepted.
