Yahoo Finance Bad Behavior in the Workplace and What You Can Do About It
No one likes to have to be the one to tell another person they need to shape up. (Unless of course, you are a mom telling your children they need to behave, knowing they may continue to drive you crazy that day if you don't!) And, as professionals, we would like to think that everyone we work with, whether it's co-workers or employees, has it together and will act the way they are supposed to in a business environment.
[See: 6 Kinds of Annoying Co-Workers and How to Deal With Them.]
Unfortunately, as we all know, that isn't always the case. And that perspective can actually be counterproductive and affect you in a negative way. Why? Because when you assume that everyone will do what they are supposed to, and then they don't, that causes frustration, extra stress and possible negative feelings toward that person, which can then impact your work, as well as your working relationship with that person.
Bad behavior is more common in the workplace than it should be. Here are some examples of "bad" behavior from your teammates or co-workers and what you can do about it.
Your teammate is unorganized, unmotivated or lazy. We've all experienced this. It may be a co-worker who overcommits and finds himself under water. Or someone who doesn't prioritize well and you're waiting on them to finish their portion of your project so you can hand it over to your client on time. Or they just flat out don't pull their weight on projects on a regular basis. You consider taking over and doing the tasks yourself, but is that really the right response? By not confronting them, you'll add work to your own plate, and you'll add to your sense of frustration because this may continue to happen and it could impact the results of your work, and therefore your professional success.
Try this instead: Take a deep breath, adopt a curious perspective and talk to them. Take them aside or approach them in the break room and in a relaxed tone start by asking questions. Ask how they are in general. Maybe something is going on in their professional or personal life that's distracting them. You could offer support or help with their tasks, if appropriate. But if nothing else, you'll know more about what's going on. Ask how their part of your project is coming along. Ask them if they clearly understand all the parts of their task and if they have the necessary tools to complete them.
You may discover that they didn't understand and felt embarrassed to ask for help, or perhaps they are waiting on someone else before they can continue their part of the project. This will save you from taking on extra work unnecessarily and help to forge a stronger alliance with your co-worker. If through the conversation you discover that your co-worker really just is unmotivated, make sure they understand how that impacts your work and how it makes you and the rest of the team feel. If, after approaching your co-worker a few times about their lack of motivation there is not a change, it may be time to take the issue to your superiors.
[See: 10 Reasons to Quit Your Job Already.]
Your co-worker thinks they are in charge. This co-worker may be looking to move up the corporate ladder, and isn't thinking about the toes they're stepping on to get there. Perhaps they took credit for your idea, they stole someone else's presentation or they order you and everyone else around when your boss isn't looking. They may receive a lot of praise from your superiors, but are annoying everyone else in the office.
What can you do? Don't be a doormat. During team meetings, ask your boss who is in charge of what tasks. Ask for it to be put on the record, so there is no confusion once the boss is gone. If your co-worker is giving you orders, calmly ask them if that task is coming from them or from your boss -- basically, ask who gave them the authority to assign you tasks. That may be enough to diffuse the situation. And if you still find that they are pushing for power or being an office bully, bring it to your boss's attention. If your boss turns a blind eye and it is really affecting your ability to accomplish your tasks, consider taking it to the HR department.
Your co-worker is stealing company time or property. This could be an employee who regularly takes extra-long lunches, or who sneaks extra breaks. Or perhaps this is a co-worker who is taking company property home when they shouldn't, using a company credit card for personal expenses or changing the numbers on certain reports. This second set of examples is, of course, more serious than the first, so before you do anything about it, be sure you really know what it going on prior to taking the issue to your boss.
Don't base your knowledge off of office gossip or what you thought you saw while you were distracted with a client. These are serious accusations, so it should be something that you witnessed while the co-worker had your undivided attention. If you feel you witnessed something unethical, you have several choices depending on your relationship with the co-worker, your relationship with you boss, the culture of your organization and how effective your HR department is. Each situation can be different based on these factors, so it's important to think through your next steps based on what would be most effective for that situation.
[See: Relaxation Exercises for When You're About to Lose It at Work.]
One option is to approach your co-worker privately. Let them know that you observed them doing something inappropriate, and give them the chance to turn themselves in. Give them a few days to do so, and if they haven't done it, take the matter to your boss. Another option is to take the issue directly to your boss and let them handle it. If you're unsure if your boss will handle it effectively, you may choose to take it to HR.
Hallie Crawford is a certified career coach, speaker and author from Atlanta whose coaching company, HallieCrawford.com, helps people identify their ideal career path, navigate their career transition and nurture their careers. Her team of coaches works with people of all ages, has clients worldwide and has helped thousands of people achieve their career goals. She is also regularly featured as a career expert in the media, including CNN, Fox Business News, The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger and Forbes.com.
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