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Category: Difficult People

How to Resolve Communication Problems Before They Happen

Have you ever sent what you believed was a clear, professional message — only to discover it landed entirely the wrong way? A neutral email is perceived as sharp. A brief response is read as dismissive. Suddenly, tension appears where none was intended. Communication sits at the heart of every successful workplace. Yet even the […]

A guide for dealing with your boss’ unwanted behavior

As upsetting, heartbreaking, frustrating and disgusting as it may be, there’s no denying that sexual harassment is a real problem in many workplaces. With how important it is to try to remove these kinds of people from your workplace as quickly as possible, it’s crucial to know what steps to take in different circumstances when your executive is clearly out of line.

Thriving with a chaotic boss

In the world of administrative support, one skill stands out as indispensable: the ability to work effectively with all types of supervisors, even those who may seem chaotic. Navigating this topic can be challenging, but it is crucial to be prepared to effectively work for executives who others may consider difficult to work for, rather than being blindsided.

How to handle a boss who belittles you

It is not uncommon to work for an executive who feels above everyone else and talks down to others. While organizations should make a greater effort to replace these types of bosses, they are a reality in the workplace and sometimes you must speak up for yourself. Here are some ways to respond if you feel that your executive is belittling you at work.

How to handle those ‘hard-to-handle’ people

We all encounter difficult people in the workplace—supervisors, co-workers, customers and others. For some of us, not a week goes by without frustrating encounters with negative or self-centered people, complainers, control freaks, meanies or micromanagers. Coping with difficult encounters can pose a real challenge.

4 tips to resolve conflicts

It’s inevitable that disputes will arise between team members, and the onus is on all of us to resolve them. Luckily, conflict resolution is a skill that you can improve, which will make dealing with disputes far easier.

The toxic five: Eradicate these from your workplace

MIT Sloan Management Review research uncovered that toxic workplaces were the number one driving factor behind employees jumping ship in 2021, trumping other serious issues such as low pay. Yet the word “toxic” gets thrown around haphazardly, with many using it interchangeably with words like “annoying” and “frustrating.” So what is it that makes a workplace toxic, exactly?

Detect gaslighting at work

Gaslighting is an insidious behavior by a co-worker that either intentionally or unintentionally breaks down your belief in your own competence. It can be caused by something as simple as differences in communication style, but it can also be the result of intense passive aggression. Pay special attention to these circumstances.