Updated 2008-09-22 05:10
Navigating office politics
How to coexist with the manager, co-worker and other annoying work adversaries
Yes, at times you want to scream “shut the expletive up!” at your overbearing co-worker and throw a stapler at his head. But this would probably get you a one-on-one with HR, or time in jail.So instead you hold it in and fantasize about sending the good-bye, aka peace-out-you-incompetent-losers e-mail, as soon as you land a new job. Sorry to burst your bubble, but “You can run but you can’t escape,” says Vicky Oliver, career coach and author of the funny yet pragmatic new book, “Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots.” “If you don’t learn how to deal with that person [in your current job], that type of personality is going to drive you crazy at the next place.” Here Oliver breaks down some classic annoying office archetypes and offers solutions for dealing with the people that drive us nuts.
1Type: Bully boss
Why you hate them:
“The bully is frequently in middle management. He might have been brought in to prune a department and the higher-ups think, better him than me. This person is a tyrant and gets away with terrible behavior. They might yell, be screamers, insist on false deadlines. They usually target someone in the group, either though wrath or ridicule.”
How to deal: “One solution is to have a facilitator in the room during meetings to say ‘that’s a really interesting point, but I didn’t hear what so-and-so had to say about it.’ Sometimes the best thing to do is lay low and let them self-destruct, because eventually bad behavior has a way of coming back. If you’re getting teased by the bully, though, try to go into their office and say, ‘I find it very hurtful ... if you continue to do it, I’m going to post a blog on
www.savetheassistants.com.’ Sometimes you can be charming, and sometimes you have to address it head on.”2Type: Big sister boss (micro-manager)
Why you hate them: “Always snooping around your monitor, has a desperate need to know what you’re up to: What is she doing in there? Why is she on the phone so long? Also, very inconsiderate of your time off. Calls weekend meetings, calls you at home.”
How to deal: “They want the play-by-play. Give it to them. Send e-mail after e-mail after e-mail of what you’re up to until he/she cries ‘uncle.’ Also, tell little white lies to get you through, like if you have to go into the office on Saturday, you’ll go, but maybe you have a matinee you have to go to.”
3Type: The coddled superstar
Why you hate them: “In his recent past he was a star and he feels like he’s part of the infrastructure. He can slide in late, leave early, takes big smoking breaks, long lunch breaks.”
How to deal: “Try to pick up their slack, but get the credit that you deserve for it. Use it as an opportunity, instead of complaining about them.”
4Type: The veteran hack
Why you hate them: “Has a lot of seniority. Thinks inside the box. The reason he’s there is a lot of clients are change adverse. He has derision for other people’s thoughts and ideas who are newer.”
How to deal: “Leave it to the manager to deal. You wont win; if he’s been there for a long time he has an entrenched set of alliances. Also court the hack, catch a drink with him; he can be a valuable alliance. He probably plays golf with the boss.”
5Type: Credit snatcher
Why you hate them: “If she were an animal she’d be a vulture. Here you are doing all the work — and it’s most likely your boss, a less creative person — who gets the credit.”
How to deal: “Credit trickles up naturally. It’s normal for your boss to get the credit. But, with all the technology, there are ways for you to get credit on the outside. Put it on your resume and your Web site.”