When Working with Someone You

Don't Like, Err Toward Kindness

Not everyone at work is going to be your friend, and some relationships are
easier than others. So, what do you do when you’re stuck working with
someone you dislike? First, accept that you might need to be the grown-up.
Don’t succumb to unproductive behaviors, like getting overly defensive,
ignoring the person out of spite, excluding them from a meeting, or sending a
passive aggressive email. Instead, identify behaviors that will serve you, and
them. You might remove yourself (politely) from unproductive conversations,
confront them respectfully and privately to discuss the problem before it
festers, or set clear boundaries around your time and expectations. At the
same time, try to focus on what they bring to the table — not on the things
that upset you about them. You might even consider whether you can give
them something — introductions to others in the organization, help building a
skill, or meaningful feedback on their work — that will alter the dynamic
between you. You may not feel like doing these things, especially if the person
rubs you the wrong way, but the investment may be worth it. The most
successful people find healthy ways to work with personalities they wouldn’t
otherwise choose to have in their life.