Difficult coworkers

[Kirby]

Have you ever had coworkers that were hard to get along with? If so, what did you do about it? Was it worth finding a new job because of them?

(Off topic, yes. That's why it's in the Off Topic forum).

[freegame]

try teaching them to play Go.

as long as those annoying people are a minority i don't think there that is much of a reason to switch jobs. it's never going to be all love and peace with everyone around you...

[Joaz Banbeck]

Start your own business; become your own boss. When your co-workers become too annoying, you fire them.

[Darrell]

Have you ever had coworkers that were hard to get along with? If so, what did you do about it? Was it worth finding a new job because of them?

As freegame says, it would pointless to get a new job because there will be annoying people there too. If your boss is the one that is hard to get along with, that might be a reason to change.

Software is full of hard-to-get-along-with people. Nice thing about go is that everyone knows their rank. In real world, there are many like inigo-weiqi - 15 kyus who think they are 5 dans. Especially in UI design - I have a whole bunch who think they are 5d around me.

The best book I've found to raise your strength is Am I The Only Sane One Working Here?.

[Kirby]

Start your own business; become your own boss. When your co-workers become too annoying, you fire them.

Sounds like an interesting idea, albeit a bit risky. Were you ever afraid of screwing up when you started your own business (you did, right?)?

As freegame says, it would pointless to get a new job because there will be annoying people there too. If your boss is the one that is hard to get along with, that might be a reason to change.

I get along with my boss alright, so maybe there's no need for a change. I haven't been working full-time that long, so maybe it just takes some getting used to. There's just one guy in particular that's kind of difficult, and I happen to share an office with him. :-p

I'd probably better just do my best, and not worry about it. As you guys say, it will probably be the same wherever I go.

[judicata]

If you've never had annoying/difficult coworkers, consider yourself lucky. They really can make your life miserable.

How to respond... well, it depends on how they are annoying, and if they have any sort of power over you (i.e. a superior).

I had one co-worker that was incredibly difficult. One day, I realized the person was not my superior, could not fire me or even reprimand me for anything--unless of course I did something really terrible and they reported it.

So, I realized I could treat the person how I wished -- ignoring, talking back (albeit in a professional way) -- with no consequences. Life improved 100%.

[xed_over]

I've only had a couple of people in my lifetime of working that just could not get along with -- and they each seemed particularly annoyed with me as well, even though I did my best to not treat them any differently and often went out of my way to try and please them.

But since I got along with everyone else so well, I just out lasted them in every case.

[Tryphon]

Have you ever had coworkers that were hard to get along with? If so, what did you do about it? Was it worth finding a new job because of them?

(Off topic, yes. That's why it's in the Off Topic forum).

I'm not sure. Aren't you living in France ?

[Joaz Banbeck]

Start your own business; become your own boss. When your co-workers become too annoying, you fire them.

Sounds like an interesting idea, albeit a bit risky. Were you ever afraid of screwing up when you started your own business (you did, right?)?

Yes, I did: freelance part-time in the early 80s, full bore in 1986 and never looked back. Yes, it is risky. but worth it. ( It almost went under in the recession of 1990, and last year was not too pleasant. 2009 was actually worse than 1990, but I was well established by then. Several of my colleagues went under. )
Several decades later, my only regrets are not having had the courage to expand faster during boom times. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing.

I've had employees for the vast majority of that time. Out of 20+ people over the years. I have only had to fire one. ( For being repeatedly drunk on the job. )

[rubin427]

There was this guy that would literally turn red and shake with rage during meetings while discussing the finer points of low polygon 3d modeling... At the time, it was a little awkward.

I just out lasted them in every case.

That's the winning strategy.

[CarlJung]

There was this guy that would literally turn red and shake with rage during meetings while discussing the finer points of low polygon 3d modeling... At the time, it was a little awkward.

I wish someone at my job were like that. It must have been fascinating to watch.

[wms]

There was this guy that would literally turn red and shake with rage during meetings while discussing the finer points of low polygon 3d modeling... At the time, it was a little awkward.

I wish someone at my job were like that. It must have been fascinating to watch.

I think I must have worked with rubin's coworker too. Only the guy I worked with would turn purple. I swear, he'd get so angry whenever you disagreed with him on technical issues, he would shout too hard, stop breathing, run out of oxygen, and turn colors. Sadly, it was only a temporary thing, eventually he would breathe a little bit and start yelling again.

The next reorg, I told my manager "If I'm on the same project as this guy ever again, I'm quitting." So he was put on one project, I was on another, and six months later he was fired for filling his work computer with midget porn. I was shocked; not that he had unusual taste in porn, or that he was dumb enough to fill his work computer with it, but because I expected him to get fired for being a royal jerk instead (I wasn't the only person at the company who had troubles with him).

[Loons]

I'd be careful of being accommodating towards people who'll jerk you around; you wind up in the rather confusing situation that you are essentially nicer to people who are jerky to you than nice people, and further it just makes people feel good about being jerky to you. (In my experience)

But I haven't had a real job yet so who knows if that's different, maybe some sacrifices must be made for income (my goal when I get a job is to make as few sacrifices for income as I can ...)

[xed_over]

I'd be careful of being accommodating towards people who'll jerk you around; you wind up in the rather confusing situation that you are essentially nicer to people who are jerky to you than nice people, and further it just makes people feel good about being jerky to you. (In my experience)

Its just like the game of Go... you have to make sure you're secure in your own position, then they can make unreasonable and emotional attacks all they want. Just patiently wait it out to the end of the game.

[schultz]

My biggest problems with coworkers so far: had a couple of them that got really negative about everything - complainers. Whatever was going on, they had ways of complaining about it, and they feed off of each other. After a while it just gets annoying and can really be a downer.