We all have that coworker. You cringe when they walk past your desk for a chat. You inwardly groan when you’re put in a project together. Don’t allow a poor dynamic to sap your energy and sabotage your success in the workplace. Here are three ways to cultivate a more healthy camaraderie.
1. Identify their strengths. Your coworker was hired and remains employed for a reason—even if it’s difficult for you to see. Recognize and respect the ways they are an asset to your team. Don’t let your frustration with them warp your view of them so that you fixate on the negative. Notice their contributions and compliment their work.
2. Reframe your exasperation. Being aware of and appreciative of your coworker’s virtues can also help you be patient with their foibles. Often our deficiencies are the inverse of our strengths. Your coworker seems like an incurable worrywart? This may reflect their attention to detail.
3. Consider your shortcomings. Be honest and humble enough to evaluate what your annoyance says about you. Does your short fuse reflect that you are stressed or burnt out? Do you notice something they do poorly because it’s something that comes naturally to you? Offer some assistance rather than stewing in irritation.
With intentionality and time, even the most fraught relationships can become valued collaborations.
