How to deal with toxic personalities at work

It's not uncommon to come across toxic personalities in the workplace. These people can really mess with productivity and hurt team spirit. Here are three types of toxic colleagues you might come across at work, and how to handle them.

The chronic complainer:

The chronic complainer is always negative and never happy. Their negativity can be pretty draining and contagious, which can affect the overall atmosphere in the workplace. To deal with this, it's important to stay positive and not get caught up in their complaints. Try to steer the conversation towards more constructive topics. They often focus on short-term issues, missing out on the big picture.

✔To manage this, it's essential to maintain a positive attitude and avoid getting drawn into their complaints. Try to redirect conversations to more constructive topics and provide context with a longer-term perspective. If their negativity is starting to affect your work, it might be time for a quick chat about how their attitude is affecting the team. Why not suggest focusing on positive changes and solutions to help create a more uplifting environment?

The Manipulator

Manipulators use deceit or flattery to achieve their goals, often at others' expense. This can lead to a tense and distrustful atmosphere. If you're dealing with a manipulator, it's important to set clear boundaries and keep communication professional.

✔It's a good idea to document important interactions to protect yourself from any potential deceit or manipulation. If you stay firm and don't let them get to you, you can keep your professionalism intact and limit their effect on your work. Remember, being open and professional is your best way to avoid being manipulated. Take responsibility for what you can, let go of what you can’t change. If you’ve tried to improve your relationship with your difficult colleague and it’s getting worse, get advice from HR.

The Workplace Bully

At the end of the day, the Workplace Bully intimidates or criticises others to assert dominance, which creates a hostile work environment. It's important to stand up to a bully if you want to keep your workplace healthy.

✔Talk to them in a calm, confident way and make it clear that their behaviour is unacceptable. If you need help, don’t be afraid to get in touch with your manager or HR. They’re there to support you. It can also help to get support from colleagues so you can stand up to bullying together. If you tackle the issue head-on and in a confident way, you’ll help create a more respectful and collaborative workplace.

Dealing with these toxic personalities can be tough, but by staying professional, setting boundaries and getting help when you need it, you can help create a healthier and more positive work environment. And remember, don't take it personally – they'll treat everyone this way.