When many different personalities and work styles come together, it can lead to greater creativity, innovation, and productivity. However, those differences can be challenging. Some aggressive personality types can become toxic, dragging down your efforts and your whole work environment. What’s toxic? Coworkers who routinely display toxic behavior might:

• Take credit for their coworkers’ ideas
• Get angry when things don’t go their way
• Criticize or embarrass others publicly
• Regularly fail to perform job duties, often at others’ expense
• Lie or gossip about coworkers
• Show disrespect for their workplace

If you work with someone who regularly exhibits behaviors such as these, you can’t necessarily change them. But, you can keep their negativity from affecting your own positive outlook and job performance. For example:

• Rise above it. No matter what is going on around you, focus on your job and make the best effort you can.
• Avoid blame. Recognize that you are not to blame for the toxic person’s behavior; take responsibility only for your own actions, not those of others.
• Don’t join them. Negative behavior can be contagious, particularly in the workplace. Don’t add to the toxic atmosphere by gossiping, complaining or retaliating.
• Reframe. Try to separate the person from the personality as it affects work. Focus on what you can do to solve the problem or change the situation, without engaging with the person.



Important: If a coworker is making verbal or physical threats, stealing from the company, or otherwise compromising safety and security at work, promptly report such activities to a supervisor or human resource personnel. Some behaviors are more than toxic—they can be

dangerous and illegal.

Source: Personal Best, a registered trademark of Ebix. (September 2019) TP Top Performance