You’re struggling to work with a difficult colleague. How can you make things better?

Understanding what is getting activated in you can be very helpful. Sometimes writing down what you’re experiencing with the co worker can be useful - and then writing what is challenging about it and trying the thought exercise of their experience of the same conflict.

Stay calm, it's essential to hold your ground and maintain your composure. Accept their personality, it's important to accept that everyone has their own personality. Set your conversational boundaries. If the co-worker's behavior is affecting your work or making you feel unsafe, it's important to talk to your boss, privately.

Sometimes it is very difficult to understand the root cause without having a difficult conversation. If the colleague is behaving in a passive-aggressive manner for example, it can be hard to ascertain what exactly is the problem. However awkward it is you probably need to have a calm conversation in private, directly addressing the behaviour and asking why they are upset or annoyed. You also need to listen and keep calm, even if they start to get angry.

J'estime qu' une personne qui est hostile à vous, a ses raisons . L'idéal serait de chercher à le comprendre en lui donnant le temps de mieux vous conna?tre et de savoir compter sur vous comme partenaire et non comme un rival. Pour cela,il faut lui donner de l'amour même quand il est agressif . Entretenir de bons rapports,un climat paisible et être patient. Et lorsque le bon moment se présente,communiquer avec respect et douceur sur l'amélioration de vos rapports pour le bien être de chacun et de l'entreprise.??

Focus on Solutions, Not Blame When conflicts arise with a difficult colleague, it's easy to get caught up in assigning blame. However, dwelling on fault-finding only escalates tensions and impedes progress. Instead, shift the focus towards finding solutions to the issues at hand. Approach discussions with a problem-solving mindset, encouraging collaboration and brainstorming to identify mutually beneficial resolutions. By emphasizing cooperation over blame, you can foster a more constructive and productive working relationship.

Improving communication is key. Try to understand their perspective, express your concerns calmly, and find common ground to work towards mutual goals. If necessary, involve a mediator or seek guidance from a supervisor.

Finding a quite place, not in front of other colleagues (unless you would like a mediator), to have an honest, positive conversation about what has led to your current relationship status can bring to light what the issues are. Once you both are honest, then misunderstandings can be addressed and the discussion can move forward in a positive way. This does not mean that you have to become best friends or like each other, but bridges can be built so that you can move forward as part of a team.

This step is crucial for cultivating a healthy workplace environment. It's a delicate balance, ensuring we respect personal boundaries while fostering connections. Start with small commonalities as building blocks for stronger relationships. Authenticity is key; forcing connections can have negative consequences. #WorkplaceCulture #AuthenticConnections