No matter where you land on the professional ladder, you will be surrounded by other people. And you may not get along with those people. We’re human! Sometimes others rub us the wrong way, earn our ire, or are just plain difficult to work with. It might not even involve personal problems – maybe you don’t mesh.
Even the most accomplished leaders understand that effectively working with people they find difficult or unlikeable is an inevitable part of their journey, regardless of industry.
Taking the high road and doing what’s best for business isn’t always easy when emotions get in the way. Here’s how I’ve learned to navigate working with people I don’t necessarily get along with.
How Leaders Work with 8 Types of Hard-to-Work-With People
Type #1 – The Know-It-All
This person is overconfident, dismissive of others' ideas, and resistant to feedback. They’re less interested in collaboration and more concerned with being right or smart in front of everyone else – even when they’re wrong.
How to Work with Them:
Acknowledge their expertise to reduce defensiveness.
Present your ideas with data and logic rather than opinions. Be ready to back up your point of view with irrefutable facts.
Ask open-ended questions to encourage collaboration.
Redirect when they interrupt to share their opinions. Allow them to share, but only after the original speaker finishes.
Type #2 – The Passive-Aggressive Colleague
Personally, I find passive-aggressive people the most frustrating. They’re indirect, avoid healthy confrontation, and subtly undermine others. But, because they are passive-aggressive and not blatantly hostile, they often deny harmful behavior when confronted.
How to Work with Them:
Address behavior directly but calmly. If they deny it, insist upon how the behavior is being interpreted.
Encourage open communication by asking for their input. Be direct with them, even if they refuse to offer the same courtesy.
Document agreements to prevent backtracking.
Type #3 – The Chronic Complainer
Pessimists are tough. They can be energy vampires…leaving everyone exhausted and down in the dumps. They’re always negative, resistant to change, and will always find a way to find a problem.
How to Work with Them:
Acknowledge their concerns without feeding into negativity. Balance it with objective optimism.
Redirect conversations toward solutions versus problems.
Set boundaries to limit their impact on team morale. Don’t allow unproductive vent sessions.
Type #4 – The Credit Hog
We all know the one. They want to be top dogs, whether or not they’ve earned it. These people take credit for work that’s not theirs and downplay the role of the team effort. It can leave colleagues feeling devalued and unmotivated.
How to Work with Them:
Keep records of your contributions and successes.
Give public recognition to team members you see doing well.
Call out collaboration in meetings to make contributions visible.
Type #5 – The Micromanager
Micromanagers tend to infiltrate – you guessed it – management roles. They’re overly controlling, lack trust, and hover over work. Their behavior declares that they don’t trust their team to do anything right. This, of course, hurts morale!
How to Work with Them:
Proactively update them to reduce their need to check in.
Ask for clear expectations and defined autonomy.
Build trust by delivering consistent results.
Type #6 – The Slacker
Slackers might be more challenging to deal with than passive-aggressive coworkers. If you’ve ever been partnered with someone who doesn’t want to do the work, you know! They avoid work, leave tasks unfinished, and rely on others to pick up the slack.
How to Work with Them:
Set clear expectations and deadlines.
Use team accountability (status updates, consequences for lack of follow-through).
Address issues privately and ask about obstacles preventing them from doing the work.
Type #7 – The Scatterbrain
These disorganized workers miss deadlines, forget details, and lack structure.
How to Work with Them:
Use written communication to reinforce key points. Keep email records and utilize multiple channels to stress tasks.
Set up reminders and follow-ups.
Offer structured tools like shared calendars or task management apps like Monday.
Type #8 – The Drama Magnet
Some people thrive on drama. It’s like they never got out of that high-school mentality! These people are easily offended, gossip constantly, and stir up conflict.
How to Work with Them:
Stay neutral and avoid engaging in gossip.
Keep the conversation professional and focused on work.
Set firm boundaries around emotional outbursts. Contact HR or other third-party mediators if necessary.
Ultimately, the colleagues who are difficult to work with will unlikely be by your side for the long haul. In the meantime, dedicate yourself to professionalism, empathy, and doing everything by the book. It’s not just a strategy for survival – it’s empowering and inspiring.