When you are employed, you not only have to face daily challenges, but also meet people of different personality types. If all the workers get along, they can contribute harmoniously to the growth of the company. However, this is not a practical situation. Often in a business hierarchy, one has to deal with domineering colleagues who exert authority or pressure on junior staff and neglect the concerns of others. These individuals are difficult to deal with, and you may find yourself constantly at odds with them. So, when asserting your own voice, you should try to nip the problem in the bud before it becomes too ingrained and affects your productivity in the workplace. Here are some steps that suggest how to deal with a dominant colleague in your office.
- Defend yourself
Dominant personalities often tend to be bossy without even realizing the consequences of their behavior towards others. Therefore, when a coworker is in full control of the situation, avoid interrupting your method of work. It does not mean that you have to tackle the problem in a combative way. You can appreciate their advice and kindly explain your work style. This shows that you are standing firm and confident of achieving certain results.
- Try discussing it over coffee.
When a domineering coworker recognizes the ability to override you, they won’t miss a single opportunity to interfere with your work. At such times, you should communicate directly with the colleague and chat with him privately over a cup of coffee. You can speak clearly about the things that are affecting you, how the dominant attitude is obstructing your work productivity, and politely ask the person in question to stop. As you do so, always remember to be calm and do not impose accusations on the domineering coworker or it will cause the person to pay less attention to your request and also have a change in attitude towards you in the office.
- Help your co-workers
People who have an authoritarian personality are usually harsh, dismissive and tend to make decisions on the simplest tasks without taking into account the opinion of others. Even if you are aware of a colleague’s aggressive communication style and have now become accustomed to it, you should not be afraid to take appropriate action when you find the coworker’s behavior to be offensive or particularly intimidating. So when a colleague crosses the line, always seek the help of other co-workers and ask them to step in to resolve the issue. You will remind the dominant colleague that you are working according to the senior’s instructions and that he / she has no say in your decisions or any supervisory power over you.
- Invoke higher authorities
When polite requests or personal emails fail to keep a colleague’s domineering nature in check, you can write the following email while keeping your boss in CC. In this way, you are not only clarifying your problems to the boss, but also showing the official willingness to discuss the matter. You can mention the problems you are facing due to the behavior of a particular colleague and how it is hampering your work. For example, you can cite certain examples of the intrusive nature of the individual in question and its impact on your daily goal. At the same time, you can also give suggestions such as asking HR to intervene to resolve the issue or limit your tasks with it.
The head of the company does not have time to address all complaints and may not take these complaints too seriously. During those times, if you think the dominant coworker is constantly overreaching, get HR involved in taking care of the matter. The HR department exists to solve conflicting problems between workers, and must accept their help when there is no other option. Rather than playing victim, you must speak out against wrongdoing and always remain proactive in the workplace.
