Dealing with a Bossy Colleague

Workplace can be a fun and challenging environment to work in. You may find like-minded people to work with, people who are indifferent, or who are out to take an advantage of you.

Such bossy people keep track of diligent, hardworking, sincere and docile colleagues. They may make a good friendship with you so that they may be able to exploit you later on. They could pass on their work to you, not give you the credit for doing their work, competing with you or playing petty politics to rise above you.

When you come across a person as such, try to see through his/her ways, and maintain distance. Do not get carried away by their sweet talk or interest in you. Be alert about the manner in which they deal with others and others deal with them. Be alert if you find the person trying to get very friendly with you.

Do not fear the power and influence they can have on you. Do not consider that you have to reciprocate to them in the same way as they behave with you. They may be deceitful and have an intention of exploiting your goodness. Be smart enough so that you don’t make it easy for them.

They may be able to boss over you once, say by allotting their work to you, making you a scapegoat, interfering with your work etc. You may be a victim for the first time.

Prepare yourself better to evade the person or to deal with the situation when she/he bullies you. Say a polite ‘No’ or make other justifiable excuses why you cannot do their work. Do not make your hostility open to them.

If the tendency still continues, then have a straight talk with them and tell them that you find their behavior unreasonable, and that they should not expect you to accept their bossy behavior.

If bossing reaches the point of harassment, inform your superior.