How to Get Along With That Difficult Colleague

​All of us can agree, that it takes only one person to completely destroy the morale and enthusiasm of a whole team. This happens everywhere, so don’t be surprised that it is happening in your office. The results can be detrimental to your team and not to mention your bottom-line.

​Just some of the consequences can be

• You avoid working with them and teamwork suffers
• Shoddy workmanship
• Pushed or missed deadlines
• Your enthusiasm suffers
• Your morale suffers
• Struggle even to get your head around going to work
• Ultimately, productivity suffers
• Negative energy, colleagues and customers or clients
• Employee turnover
• Fosters cliques and factions

A Happy Work Place

“A department, or company, that works well together, has the most success together. When you enjoy working with your colleagues and look forward to interacting with them, everyone benefits.” Andy Teach

How true, if the morale is high at work, I’ll drive to work with a song in my heart. I’ll even make them a cup of coffee and help out with extra work. Just because my colleagues (aka work) makes me happy. ​“Information flows more freely”, says David Parnell, when morale is high at work. 

“They’ll produce more than a low-morale work environment.”
“Things get done faster. People will go the extra mile; they will take ownership of a job, a decision or problem.” Skip Wisman

So what to do with an unwanted or difficult colleague?

If you want to work better with your colleagues, here’s what you can do:

1. Teamwork as part a performance management system.
If you don’t measure it and give people the expectation at the very beginning of their role with the organization, it will not be seen as priority.
 
2. Do not complain to management. 
“Take whatever steps are necessary to remedy your situation first, and only turn to management as the last resort. Going over someone’s head never works.
 
3. Ask for advice.
Again, you don’t want to go to your boss or upper management to complain about a co-worker, but you can ask your supervisor for advice on how to improve your work relationships. “They will certainly appreciate the fact that you came to them first because you want to improve the team dynamic,” Teach says. “This will help your supervisor see that you are truly a team player.”
 
4. Communicate directly with them, address the problem head on.

I think that this is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to improving a work relationship,” It’s totally understandable why you and a co-worker don’t work well together but the onus is on you to improve the situation.” It is uncomfortable, potentially embarrassing, and certainly not the easiest route; it is, however, the most effective, he says.
 
5. Engage the law of reciprocity. 
“If you happily help people first, others automatically will feel a sense of obligation to return the favour,” Make them a cup of coffee, if you have a few minutes extra, ask if you can assist them.
 
6. Celebrate and reward great teamwork. 
Unfortunately, most employees won’t go out of their way to work well with others, unless there’s something in it for them.
“Set up a ‘Team Player of the Month Award’ that the team votes on and reward that person with a dinner out, gift certificate or cash,” she suggests. This should help motivate your colleagues to be better team players.

7. Go out to lunch or for a drink.
 When colleagues don’t get along or don’t work well together, it simply might be that they don’t really know each other. The best way to get to know a co-worker better is to spend some time with them away from the office.
“Offer to take them out to lunch or a drink after work and just chat with them as an equal. Use the time to find out what you have in common outside of work, add some foundation to your relationship.
One of my favourite tools to get to know colleagues, is by using Storytelling. In a very short session you get to know the individuals in your team on a new level. Finally, you understand why certain colleagues behave as they do.

8. Find out their challenges and obstacles.
Don’t always assume that the reason why a co-worker doesn’t work well with you is because it’s personal. It may be that they don’t have the aptitude for the job or don’t have the training necessary to do a great job. “If this is the case, offer to train them or to help them in any way. They will see you in a new light; as an asset and not a liability.”

9. Find out their Strengths
Some colleagues are brilliant in working with people, others want to hide away during any social events, but are brilliant with one on one sessions. Some can handle confrontation, others come off with crazy ideas. Others can Strategize, pick up new information like a sponge or is just great to be with.

Each one of us, has Strengths, in these you thrive, is productive and when living in them you are one happy person. StrengthsFinder is highly recommended for any individual, couple and especially team.
 
 
 
Source: 10 ways to get Your Colleagues to work with you better. Jacquelyn Smith on Forbes