DEALING WITH A NOSY CO-WORKER

DEALING WITH A NOSY CO-WORKER

Every workplace has that one co-worker or more that knows all the latest gist and goes around putting their nose into other people’s businesses. At first, we could try to adjust and co-exist but then after a while it becomes unbearable and we start to wonder how to deal with them, put them in their space. We have listed below different ways by which you can handle /deal with noisy co-workers.

1.  Identify them

For you to be able to deal with a noisy co-worker, you must first identify which of your co-worker is noisy. The worker who wants to get all the juicy gossip, always asking questions that they have no business asking.

2.  Evaluate objectively

Evaluating objectively can help to determine the person’s reasoning for their behaviors. You may feel they’re being nosy or intrusive, but could be their way of getting to know you better. If the nosiness relates to work, the person may be worried about the success of a project you’re working on and wants to ensure things are been done properly. Not all nosiness or annoying behaviors come from a negative place, looking for the intentions can make the person easier to handle.

3.  Control Your Reaction

It’s not always easy to stay calm when they are constantly annoying you, but that’s exactly what you need to do to avoid making the situation worse. Some annoying coworkers just want to get an emotional reaction from you, so don’t give them the satisfaction they desire. Staying calm helps you avoid saying or doing something that can get you into trouble, make the situation worse, or regret it later on.

4.  Reduce Contact with Nosy Coworkers

It’s almost not possible since you work for the same company, but minimizing your contact can help you avoid uncomfortable interactions with them. Limit your interactions to work-related issues when possible.  Stating clearly boundaries helps you avoid unwanted interactions.

5.  Deviate the Conversation

Lying isn’t a good way to handle a noisiness as you won’t want to be deceptive to your coworkers but deviating the conversations or line of question by changing the subject may help keep them a bay. You could simply excuse yourself to do some photocopies or ask another colleague a question, you could also turn the tables around and ask them a question (if they ask something too personal or too sensitive).