Business

How to deal with a domineering colleague in the workplace

When you are employed, you not only have to face daily challenges, but you also have to meet people of different personality types. If all workers get along, they can contribute harmoniously to the growth of the company. However, this is not a practical situation. Often in a corporate hierarchy, one has to deal with dominant colleagues who exert authority or pressure on junior staff and neglect the concerns of others. These people are difficult to get along with and you may find yourself constantly at odds with him/her. Therefore, by asserting your own voice, you should try to nip the problem in the bud before it becomes too entrenched and affects your productivity in the workplace. Here are some suggested steps on how to deal with a domineering colleague in his office.

  • defend yourself

Dominant personalities often tend to be bossy without even realizing the consequences of their behavior towards others. Therefore, when a co-worker exercises full control over the situation, he will prevent you from interrupting your work method. It doesn’t mean you have to approach the subject combatively. He can say thanks for his advice and politely explain his work style. This shows that you stand your ground and are confident of achieving certain results.

  • Try to discuss it over coffee.

When a domineering coworker recognizes the ability to override you, they won’t miss a single opportunity to interfere with your work. At such times, you should communicate directly with the colleague and have a private chat over a cup of coffee. He can speak clearly about the things that are bothering him, how the bossy attitude is hindering his work productivity, and politely request the person in question to stop. When doing so, always remember to stay calm and not impose accusations on the domineering coworker or it will cause the person to pay less attention to your request and also change their attitude towards you in the office.

  • Take help from coworkers

People who have an authoritarian personality tend to be harsh, dismissive, and tend to make decisions on the simplest tasks without taking into account the opinion of others. Even if you are aware of a colleague’s abrasive communication style and have become accustomed to it, you should not be afraid to take appropriate action when you find the colleague’s behavior offensive or particularly intimidating. Therefore, when a colleague steps out of line, always seek the help of other co-workers and ask them to step in to resolve the issue. It will remind the dominant colleague that you are working in accordance with the instructions of the superior and that he/she has no say in your decisions and no supervisory power over you.

  • Invoke higher authorities

When courtesy requests or personal emails fail to control a colleague’s domineering nature, you can write the following email while keeping your boss on CC. In this way, she is not only clarifying her problems with the boss, but also showing an official willingness to discuss the issue. You can mention the problems you are facing due to the behavior of a particular colleague and how he is hammering out the work. For example, you can cite certain examples of the intrusive nature of the individual in question and his impact on his daily purpose. At the same time, you can also give suggestions like asking HR to step in to resolve the matter or limit your tasks with him/her.

The head of the company does not have time to deal with all complaints and may not take them too seriously. At such times, if he believes that the domineering co-worker is constantly overstepping the line, he gets the human resources department on board to handle the matter. The human resources department exists to resolve conflicting issues between workers, and should be helped when there is no other option. Instead of playing a victim, he should speak out against wrongdoing and should always remain proactive in the work environment.

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