Handling Toxic People at Work
A lot of team members ask me about handling toxic people at work. Today, I present to you a solution - *Steve's KFC and DONUT Toolkit:*
You'll always find one (or two) obnoxious, apathetic, cunning, and unprofessional team members around you. There is no corporate without these vicious snakes. You can either be scared of them and serve your professional tenure in fear, or you can tackle the situation by employing a strategy I call Steve's KFC toolkit®. (I know, it sounds delicious).
1. Kindness: Be kind to them. See if their toxicity and bigotry is a result of lack of kindness in their lives. Give them a second chance invoking Hanlon's Razor.
2. Friendliness: Provide a shoulder to cry on in case they are carrying any burden within. Know your limits and never make yourself vulnerable in front of them.
3. Communication: Tell them what you've been doing so far to deal with them. If it's evident that they're actually what they are, mark your boundary, warn them to stay within the perimeter of decency and mindfulness around you.
If this strategy doesn't work, the next step would be to show them when an upright professional has had enough, nobody dares challenge their integrity. Not letting anyone walk all over you or disrespect you is the immediate step. You do that by another strategy I call Steve's Donut Toolkit®. (Yeah, I know, I like food).
1. Diminish: any contact other than work to avoid falling into any of their callous traps.
2. Organize: your work in a way that requires their minimal or no contact.
3. Neutralize: any chance for them to attack you by documenting every interaction.
4. Update: their supervisors of every communication you've had with them. Don't overlook any minor skirmishes.
5. Tame: your reactional instincts to even let your guard down, and stay cautious of them.
It might sound a bit too much, but it will surely help you in dealing with uncooperative and malicious teammates. If all fails, get in touch with me. I am Steve. 😊
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