Navigating the workplace can be challenging, especially when dealing with difficult colleagues. Transitioning from college, where you choose your friends, to a workplace, where you spend most of your time with assigned colleagues can be a change some may not be prepared to deal with.
The saying, “You can choose your friends but not your family,” applies equally to work partners. Collaborating with people who are hard to get along with is an inevitable part of professional life. For many, it is a frustrating and discouraging daily experience. You may never choose some of your colleagues to socialize with after hours, but there are ways to approach this situation. These approaches can help you gain a broader perspective and cultivate greater understanding, patience, and compassion for challenging colleagues.
Here are three key points to remember:
- All of us require extra grace. None of us are perfect. We all need patience and understanding from others at various times. Offering grace to difficult colleagues can foster a more harmonious work environment. I heard someone humorously share the best marriage advice that they received, “be good to your spouse ‘cause you ain’t no peach yourself.” We would all do well to remember that we might very well be someone else’s challenging relationship in the workplace, and we should be ready to show the same patience and grace we would want from others.
- Try to understand their perspective. Consider their experiences and how these shape their relationships. Effective counselors often focus on understanding the experiences in a patient’s life that have caused their issues rather than giving immediate advice. Empathy and striving to understand the reasons behind individuals’ behaviors can improve communication and bridge gaps. Learning the story of someone who has been challenging can help reframe how to collaborate effectively with them.
- Ask yourself, “What is God trying to accomplish in this situation?” Here’s the big truth that we all need to take into any challenging situation. Rather than bemoan and complain about things that are difficult for us to change we should instead, consider what God aims to teach us in the situation. Instead of complaining about challenges we can’t change, reflect on the bigger picture of God’s work in our lives. Many biblical figures struggled through working with difficult people, even Jesus had tough days with his disciples. Remember, God is always shaping us and preparing us for the future. Challenges are opportunities for growth and learning. They make us better individuals and leaders if we maintain a positive mindset.
So, while tough times may not last, working around tough people will. Embrace these challenges as opportunities to develop patience, empathy, and understanding. By doing so, you can turn challenging work relationships into valuable learning experiences.