How to deal with 4 types of office grinches

We’ve all worked with at least one office Grinch. Not just the individual who is a real scrooge around the festive season, this is the difficult co-worker who you struggle to work with all year round. And, with so many personality types within the office, there will always be someone we clash with.

Speaking to HR Grapevine, Steve Wainwright, Managing Director, EMEA, at Skillsoft, advises on how to deal with a difficult personality, ‘the office grinch’ per se. He says that the key to managing difficult personalities is to become familiar with the most common types. “After all, you can’t change other people, but you can change how you deal with them. This skill is vital to ensure a challenging colleague doesn’t impact how you feel about your job,” he advises.

The concept of adapting your behaviour to different situations can help to recognise your role in tackling difficult interactions. “Next time you’re involved in a touchy interaction with a Grinchy colleague, take a moment before you say anything,” Wainwright continues. “Consider their specific personality type and formulate an appropriate response without letting emotions get the better of you.”

According to Wainwright, there are four common types of difficult co-workers, according to Wainwright. Their personality types, and how to deal with them have been listed below: