Key Tips for Dealing With Draining or Toxic Coworkers
Dealing with coworkers who are toxic or draining can be incredibly stressful. It doesn't take long before you start dreading walking into your office each day--and when you discover that they're out sick, you may experience an incredible sense of relief. While there's little you can do to remove those toxic coworkers from your life, there are several steps you can take to make them easier to deal with.
Tip #1: Set Healthy Boundaries
There are several strategies you can use to avoid a toxic individual in your workplace. This may include:
Deliberately staying away from them whenever possible
Keeping yourself at a professional distance--keeping conversations to only professional topics
Asking to be reassigned, whether that means moving your space or moving to a different team
Keep in mind that you should, if at all possible, avoid negative bonding with your toxic coworker. Eventually, they will complain about something that you dislike, too. Once you allow yourself to be sucked in, however, you may find that it's much harder to get out again.
Tip #2: Talk to Your Boss
Your boss will help you navigate any conflict with toxic individuals in your workplace. Your boss may also be able to provide suggestions for dealing with this toxic individual. If the toxicity has increased to the point that there is unnecessary drama, your boss may be able to help you reach a resolution. In other cases, your boss may be able to help you navigate misunderstandings and better understand what it is about the toxic individual that is causing problems.
Tip #3: Don't Get Personal
When you're at work, you're at work--and chances are, your toxic coworker doesn't have it out for you personally. Whenever possible, take the high road yourself and avoid being sucked in personally. Keep that important professional distance as you remind yourself that it's not really about you. You can work professionally with anyone as long as you can avoid letting it impact you personally.
Tip #4: Practice Self-Care
As the toxic individual starts to get to you, you may notice your stress levels increasing in other areas. Practice self-care to avoid bringing that toxicity home with you. You may need more time to decompress after work. It may be more important than ever to eat properly or make sure that you're getting plenty of exercise. Your self-care strategies will help prevent the negativity from bleeding over in other areas of your life.
Dealing with a toxic individual in the workplace can be a heavy burden. With the right coping strategies, however, you can improve your ability to deal with it and keep your workplace healthy. If your workplace is full of toxic coworkers, use this as motivation to find a workplace that is a better fit for your personality and values.