No matter where you go in life, you will always find someone who is just utterly irritating. While in everyday life, you can just stay away from these people, it might be challenging to avoid annoying co-workers.
Since you’re at work, it is not acceptable to just punch someone in the face and get over it (Not that it is acceptable outside of work, but you get what I mean). So we need to learn how to deal with lazy, difficult or annoying co-workers civilly.
The Nursing Journal came up with 4 ways to handle annoying co-workers, that doesn’t get you fired:
Be Upfront
OK, hear me out. I know that this is a bit challenging, and not to be sexist, but women do have a tendency to just complain behind someone’s back and never actually confront that person. So the first thing you should do is to actually talk to the person.
Whether they are making fun of you, being rude or just plain lazy get some confidence and talk to the person. Make sure you don’t go with an angry attitude like you’re ready for war. A lot of the times, people who are irritated or lazy at work might have other issues going on.
Communication is vital in any relationship, and by talking to your co-worker, you will airing things out. Perhaps they need some support or motivation and knowing that you took the time to actually ask is likely to make things better. Avoid being sarcastic, because even though this might be funny to you, it will make the situation worse.
Avoid Annoying Co-Workers
If talking to your annoying co-worker does not work, then just take the easy way and avoid them. As a nurse, you will have your own patients, so focus on your tasks and just go on with your day. There are plenty of other people to talk to at work, so only speak to them when you really have to.
Do Not Comment
Avoiding an annoying co-worker might be challenging, especially if they keep trying to engage with you. The best way to deal with stupid comments is to just remain calm, smile and walk away.
Do not give them the pleasure of engaging in their conversation. Eventually, if you keep doing this, they will give up and find someone else to annoy. And you will be surprised at how much better you feel by merely ignoring stupidity.
Do Not Overcompensate for Their Work
Now, this might be difficult to do, mainly because our work involves patients. If you notice that your co-worker is just being lazy and not getting stuff done, then let it be. Make sure that the patient does not get harmed, and that all you work is done and just leave it.
If you keep on doing their work, then it will go about unnoticed. By time, your charge nurse will likely notice and take action (unless you are referring to your charge nurse as the annoying co-worker, then just give up).
In Conclusion
Keep in mind that you can’t always fix things, especially when dealing with stupid people. There is no cure for that. But hopefully, these 5 tips will make your life a lot easier.
Tell us about your annoying co-workers in the comments section below!
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