How to deal with toxic colleagues on the job

What do a nagging toothache, a persistent bad smell, and a person with a toxic attitude have in common? For one, they make daily life pretty miserable.

A toothache can be addressed by going to a dentist and getting to the bottom of where a bad smell is coming from will likely clear up the issue.

​But what can be done about the attitude of a toxic work colleague?

We can't make people change and it isn't healthy to fight toxicity with toxicity. 

But there are ways to make working with such an individual a bit easier. 

This article contains four suggestions that will hopefully help.

Maintain your positive outlook and compassionate nature.

Being around someone who consistently insults others, gossips, initiates arguments, and complains can be contagious. This is part of what makes such behavior toxic. This person's behavior has a detrimental effect on others in their vicinity. So, try your best to maintain your positive outlook and compassionate nature. Fight the urge to imitate any aspect of their behavior. 

Establish Boundaries.

One way to avoid being needlessly impacted by a toxic colleague's attitude is to only be in their presence when absolutely necessary. Avoid spending downtime with them, eating lunch with them, friending them on social media, or giving them access to your personal home number and email address. While you must engage with them at work regarding projects or tasks, there's no reason to do so outside of working hours.
​

​They may have issues, but you're not their enabler
​or their therapist.

​ It's likely that your toxic colleague suffers from a variety of personal problems. An inability to effectively address their personal problems may trigger abusive behaviors. 
Though we may feel empathy for them, it isn't our job to placate them or to try and "fix" them.
​Instead of attempting to please them or heal their emotional wounds, it may be best to respect the boundaries we've established and feel sympathy for them from a safe distance.

Mention your concerns to human resources or to a trustworthy superior. ​

Honestly, this last suggestion may not always work.  Before going to HR or to a superior who seems trustworthy, you may want to observe how these individuals handle other problems in the company. Do they solve the problem? Do they sweep it under the rug?
Or does the "whistleblower" somehow manage to get demoted?
If the HR Department and/or superior has a track record of integrity, it's likely a good idea to bring your concerns to them. But if you suspect your complaint will be brushed aside or do nothing more than put a target on your back, it may be time to look for a new job.   

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It's no fun to work with unpleasant people, but work is not life. It's simply an aspect of your day, and it's likely you'll eventually leave this job to move on to something better. 

​So, remember to maintain your positive outlook, establish boundaries, avoid getting sucked into a toxic person's drama, and if prudent, mention your concerns to an HR representative or superior who has the power to make positive changes in the workplace. 

I hope some of these tips come in handy and I hope you have a wonderful week!