In an ideal world, we all want to establish good working relationships with people we have to deal with, especially those we have to meet on a regular basis.  But that will not always be the case.  In reality, we do get our share of colleagues who make it seem their career to make life just a little bit harder for you.  Unluckily for us, we do get pressures and stress from having to deal with the daily grind of life, and here, on one hand, we have to contend with these annoying colleagues.  So, how should you deal with it?

Stay Above Water

You can stay above office politics by not rising to the bait.  Many realize that these kinds of people already look foolish as it is, and calling other people’s attention to them will only be a waste of time.  Understand your job description and stick to it.  No one can force you to go over and beyond what is expected of you unless you do so of your own accord.  It may be for purposes of self improvement, but if it’s extra work for you that will cause you to lose track of business and other usual stuff, then don’t let them push you around.

Keep a watchful eye and ear around you for trouble that may come or has already occurred.  Be prepared with facts, logical reasoning, and figures, if necessary.  This is one of the reasons why one should keep important documents including emails in your personal file or folder.  You may need to reference these materials as evidences in case something like this comes up.  If you anticipate a possible issue or possible conflict of projects, make sure to procure your supervisor’s approval or let them know about your situation.  There would be times when you need someone to back you up when things get out of hand.

Need a Break

When you find yourself unable to keep your cool any longer, it might be time to get some time away from these people.  This is a viable situation especially when you have tried ignoring them and limiting your interaction with them.  But because the nature of your work requires you to keep in constant communication with them, you may want to rethink your options.  A person can only take so much at some point, and getting out even for a short while may be the exact remedy you need.