Navigating A Shared Office Space: How To Deal With A Difficult Co-Worker

Imagine this: You're at your work desk engrossed in an important call, working on a project with a tight deadline looming in a couple of days. The stakes are high, and you cannot be distracted. A single miscalculation could translate into hours of redoing the work.  

You are neck-deep into it when you hear the loud laughter of a coworker. They are a close acquaintance, so you are used to it, but you also know that they do not understand when to pause and just not be loud! Every little thing could be a loud laugh or a loud conversation and there you have it, you messed up that one little calculation because you got distracted and now you need to re-do everything, when you really just wanted to grab dinner with your friend tonight.

It's safe to say, that as much as we love our coworkers, there are times when quirky habits can make communicating with a difficult coworker a huge task. Here’s a light-hearted look at some annoying coworker habits and how to deal with difficult coworkers (without losing your mind)

The Loud Talker

Ah, the Loud Talker we just discussed. You know who they are – their phone conversations can be heard in the next postcode, and they seem to be allergic to the concept of an "inside voice", especially in a coworking space.

How to Deal: Invest in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Alternatively, establish a 'quiet zone' in the office where people can work without disruption.

The Kitchen Slob

This person treats the office kitchen like a crime scene. From leaving half-eaten food in the fridge to a mountain of unwashed dishes, they are the bane of office cleanliness.

How to Deal: Gently remind them of kitchen etiquette or suggest setting up a cleaning rota. Sometimes, a friendly nudge is all it takes when maintaining a flexible office space environment.

The Serial Interrupter

The Serial Interrupter doesn’t believe in the concept of ‘bad timing’. They’ll pop over to your desk for a chat, regardless of whether you’re deep in concentration or dealing with a tight deadline.

How to Deal: Set boundaries. Let them know your available hours for chit-chat and when you need to focus.

The Space Invader

Personal space? What’s that? The Space Invader is always lurking too close for comfort, making private conversations which makes working in a flexible or shared office space, hell. If social anxiety would fear anyone, it would be this person.

How to Deal: Politely remind them about personal space and suggest communal areas for conversations that don’t require proximity.

The Perpetual Borrower

From pens to phone chargers, they’ve borrowed (and probably not returned) them all.

How to Deal: While you may be working in a serviced, shared workplace, it doesn’t literally mean that everything is shared. Communicate and make any of your annoying coworkers aware about what can be shared and what can’t. Labelling your items can also serve as a subtle reminder for them to return your belongings.

While there are multiple examples of dealing with difficult coworkers, it’s imperative to separate a situation from an individual and focus more on communicating openly. Approaching it with a blend of empathy and assertiveness makes working with difficult coworkers, not so difficult. Avoiding confrontation goes a long way and leaves room for understanding. Coming up with solutions that benefit both parties makes it easier for everyone to blend in easily. Most of them aren’t aware of their habits, so a friendly chat can solve a complicated situation, quite easily. And who knows, maybe you’re the 'Serial Coffee Mug Collector', and you just don't know it yet!

Co-Working with Office Freedom

Discover the advantages of coworking spaces first-hand by partnering with Office Freedom. Whether you're based in bustling cities such as London or New York City, we can assist you in finding the ideal coworking space that aligns with your specific requirements. Uncover our comprehensive listings, featuring a diverse range of coworking spaces meticulously crafted to elevate and enrich your work environment. Or simply, reach out to us at the details mentioned below!

📞 020 4579 6166⁠
📧 [email protected]⁠