Recently, I have a new job teaching English full time to first grade students in China. Since the school is new there are no clubs excpet for those that local teachers have or tutoring activities. I tutor kids 1-3 and it goes well. I really love my job and my co-workers...well almost all my co-workers.
In your life there will always be one student, boss, or co-worker who brings you down. Ask anyone who has worked multiple jobs and they will tell you that there is always one person who is rude, a know-it-all, or complains. Often times they don't do anything worth firing for so they stick around even though they make everyone miserable. In some companies, these people get promoted, not because they are worthy of the job, but so they are out of that department. Yes, that is a real thing.
Right now I have a co-worker who is a know-it-all, complains non-stop, and has been caught lying. They were confronted by our department head and that person did dial it down, but they are still pain in the butt. How do you deal with these thorns in your rose garden of a job?
For myself I am still trying to figure this out. I pray that they will be fired or quit their job but it seems that will not be happening soon. Right now things that I am trying to do is...
1. Distance myself. I started off this year trying to be everyone's friend since I am in a new country I knew I had to branch out. Recently, I decided that I would rather be by myself then be with someone so toxic.
2. Let is wash over me. This co-worker often says things rude or ignorant. Usually I would get into lecture mode and teach them the errors of their ways...but people like this do not like "lose." They know they are wrong but since you pointed it out they are now going to fight ten times harder to embarress you in front of everyone. I have to decide what things I can do on my own and when I can ignore my co-workers "advice."
3. Fight when it is necessary. There are times when you have to work as a group and when someone is dead wrong, they are dead wrong. There have only been a few times when I would not let my co-worker get by with something and each time that co-worker put what I wrote to her on a public chat for everyone to see. They went to embarress me and I would not take it. If this happens to you, be professional, be considerate, and word everything well. I took apart her argument piece by piece, showed the group evidence on how XYZ would be better, and stated how my co-worker's method would not work. My co-worker was furious and it showed in her very public response. It got awkward for her and there were times I thought that maybe I should duck out, because it would be easier to quit then keep this argument going. I hate confrontation but what she was saying could not keep going. So far this has worked out for me but I really have to pick my battles carefully.
4. If they won't be positive, I will be. I don't want to be that person that everyone dislikes because I feel bad. I may not like my co-worker but I will not show that at work. My goal is to do little acts of kindness at work that counter the bad. When I see that mean teacher's TA, I smile and give a compliment. You would not believe how much that changes someone's day. If that mean teacher refuses to clean her room because "that's the janitor's job" I will clean my room on my own. If that teacher won't get paper because "she is too busy" I will get the paper and help unjam the printer. It is little and probably unnoticed but dang it! I think it matters.
If anyone has advice on these co-workers please comment below! I would love more advice on this.
End On a Happy Note: I must admit that sometimes I feel like this but I hope this makes you laugh.
https://youtu.be/zi8ShAosqzI
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