The following post originally appeared on the Jobipedia blog and is being shared with permission from the site.
“Can you believe she sent me that email!?!?”
The workspace can be a place of inspiration and joy, filled with people who you deeply appreciate. Your office can also be a drudgery littered with various individuals who you’d rather not see twice let alone every day. The harsh reality of working with someone you don’t like on a regular basis can be difficult to navigate.
We wanted to get advice from our experts on how to handle these types of situations. Here are a few bits of advice to help you discern how to alleviate any kind of unpleasant workspace union.
Chris from The Schwan Food Company said, “Conflicts with co-workers are not uncommon. The best way to handle these is between you and that person. If you feel that you are unable or do not feel comfortable confronting that person then you should bring your supervisor into the situation. It is in their best interest to resolve the problem as quickly as possible and find a solution.
(Read Chris’s full response here >>)
Chris gives great advice. Nell at Pitney Bowes offered additional insight, “The good news is you are not alone. Many people face this same struggle at their work. With so many different personality types, deadlines and overtime, it is inevitable that personalities will clash. My advice to you is to avoid the “grass is greener” mentality. There is no guarantee that you will like everyone at another job. I have some thoughts for you on this topic:
- Surround yourself with the people that you do like. This will help you enjoy your time better at work.
- Try to find a common ground with the person that you dislike, maybe you have different views professionally but you may have a common love for a sports team or hobby. This could help build a foundation to help the working relationship.
- Avoid ever talking bad or gossiping about this person. This will create an even more toxic environment.
- Do occasional acts of kindness for this person. This can also be a bridge to a relationship that can go a long way professionally.”
(Read Nell’s full response here>>)
At some point in time you will inevitably work with someone who you don’t get along with. The key is to work through your disagreements, communicate and find common ground. You both probably want to keep your jobs, so at the very least try to find some sense of unity in the workplace. Overcoming your dislike won’t be easy, but you’ll earn the respect of your coworkers and learn how to engage someone who’s difficult. And while confrontation is never easy, it’s better to deal with it professionally than let it linger.
Jobipedia.org is a free career advice website that was developed specifically for entry-level job seekers. The website offers unparalleled access to hiring and recruiting managers from Fortune 500 companies. Our contributing hiring experts personally write every answer to user-submitted questions. Their advice is invaluable because they interact with prospective hires on a daily basis, review resumes, conduct interviews and are involved in the process of deciding which candidates to hire.