Handling Toxic Co-Workers

We all know these 12 toxic coworkers.

Handle them like a pro:

Colleagues like this destroy morale and slow down teams.

They:
↳Interrupt
↳Hog credit
↳Spread Drama
↳And make every day harder than it has to be.

You can’t always avoid them.

But you CAN learn to deal with them –

Calmly and confidently:

1. The Spotlight Thief
↳Jumps in at the end to claim credit for your work
↳What to do: Share progress updates publicly in writing (email, Slack) so your contributions are clearly documented

2. The Bulldozer
↳Interrupts, talks over people, dismisses other views
↳What to do: Say, “I’d like to finish my thought before we move on,” using a calm, steady tone

3. The Complainer-in-Chief
↳Constantly points out problems, never offers solutions
↳What to do: Ask, “What do you think could help fix it?” to steer them toward constructive input

4. The Gossip
↳Spreads drama disguised as “just keeping you in the loop”
↳What to do: Respond with silence or say, “I’m not comfortable talking about someone who’s not here”

5. The Blame Shifter
↳Points fingers the moment something goes wrong
↳What to do: Recap decisions and action steps in writing to make responsibilities clear

6. The Control Freak
↳Nitpicks everything and won’t delegate
↳What to do: Say, “Here’s how I plan to handle this – let me know if you see any red flags” to preempt interference

7. The Victim Player
↳Always the wronged party, never at fault
↳What to do: Stay neutral and ask, “What would moving forward look like here?” to refocus on solutions

8. The Boundary Crosser
↳Messages late, expects instant replies, invades your calendar
↳What to do: Say, “I won’t be available after 6 – if it’s urgent, let’s plan ahead during work hours”

9. The Know-It-All
↳Shoots down every idea that’s not theirs
↳What to do: Ask, “What outcome are we aiming for?” to shift the focus to shared goals

10. The Chaos Agent
↳Thrives on last-minute emergencies and panic
↳What to do: Say, “Can you confirm the deadline in writing?” to clarify urgency and reduce drama

11. The Underminer
↳Subtly questions your competence in front of others
↳What to do: Ask calmly, “Can you clarify what you mean by that?” to force them to either explain or back off


If any of these are all too familiar,

Don’t try to match their energy.

Instead, use this sheet to:
↳Set clear boundaries
↳Stay calm under pressure
↳And protect your peace