You may not know this, but there are three types of coworkers that can wreak havoc on your career success, and you probably interact with all of them on a regular basis. Unfortunately, coworkers don’t come with “warning” labels. (It would be so helpful if they did!) The good news is that once you identify these people, you can alter the way you interact with them to maximize your workplace success and sidestep unnecessary drama.
These 3 Types of Coworkers Can Sabotage Your Career Success
There are more than just three types of coworkers who have the potential to diminish your success, but most of them fall into these categories:
The gossip
Gossips aren’t trustworthy, but they can be entertaining. When you’re bored at work, indulging in a little lively gossip can feel harmless, but it isn’t. We’ve all heard the saying, “Those who talk with you, talk of you.” This is just as true within office walls as it is outside of them. Gossip isn’t harmless, and gossipy coworkers can ruin your work reputation/career success if you get on their bad side. Do yourself a favor and totally avoid gossips, especially in the workplace.
The bad influence
An article by Forbes made the point that people who are bad influences are often a lot of fun to be around. They usually cheer up a mundane workday and bring a sense of excitement to the workplace. However, it’s important to remember that they can also get you off the path to success. These individuals will easily convince you to take extra-long breaks, use company resources for personal gain, etc. Little habits like these can get you into big trouble in the long run, possibly causing you to be looked over for promotions. With this type of colleague, be intentional about becoming the influencer, not the one who is influenced.
The chronic delegator
Delegation can be a wonderful thing. For some people, though, it is a struggle. They don’t want to let others do their work. For others, it is a very different story. Some of your coworkers are happy to give you more than your fair share of their work. People like this may be used to getting their way by asking nicely and simply being persuasive. If you are too busy helping a colleague achieve his or her career goals, you might just miss out on reaching yours, so practice boundaries and discretion in this area.
There are many individuals who gossip, negatively influence others, and over-delegate in the workplace. Be cordial to peers like this, but maintain your distance. Doing so will keep you on the fast track to reaching your goals, and out of trouble.
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