How to Deal With a Dominant Colleague at Work

When you work, you are not only confronted with daily challenges, but you are also exposed to people of various personality types. If all of the employees get along well, they will be able to contribute to the company’s growth in a harmonious manner. This, however, is not a practical situation. In a business hierarchy, it is common to have to deal with dominant colleagues who exert authority or pressure on junior staff while ignoring the concerns of others. These people are difficult to deal with, and you may find yourself constantly at odds with him or her. As a result, by asserting your own voice, you must try to nip the problem in the bud before it becomes too deeply entrenched and affects your workplace productivity. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with a domineering coworker at your workplace.

Speak up for yourself.

Dominant personalities are frequently bossy without even realizing the consequences of their actions toward others. As a result, if a coworker has complete control of the situation, stop him/her from interfering with your working method. It does not necessitate a combative approach to the problem. You can thank them for their advice and explain your working style politely. This demonstrates that you are firm in your stance and are confident in your ability to achieve specific results.

Try to talk about it over coffee.

When a dominant coworker recognizes the ability to override you, he or she will not waste any time interfering with your work. At such times, you should speak directly with the colleague and have a private conversation with him or her over a cup of coffee. You can express clearly what is bothering you, how the overbearing attitude is impeding your work productivity, and politely request that the concerned individual stop. While doing so, keep your cool and avoid making accusations against the dominant coworker; otherwise, the person will pay less attention to your request and will have a negative attitude toward you in the office.

Utilize the assistance of coworkers.

People with an authoritative personality are often harsh, dismissive, and take charge of even the simplest tasks without regard for the opinions of others. Even if you are aware of and have grown accustomed to a coworker’s abrasive communication style, you should not be afraid to take appropriate action if you find the coworker’s behavior offensive or particularly intimidating. As a result, whenever a coworker crosses the line, always seek assistance from other coworkers and ask them to step in to resolve the issue. It will remind the dominant colleague that you are following the senior’s orders and that he or she has no say in your decisions or supervisory power over you.

Invoke higher-level authorities.

When polite requests or personal emails fail to keep a colleague’s dominant nature in check, you can write the next email with your boss on the CC list. You are not only expressing your concerns to the boss in this manner, but you are also demonstrating an official willingness to discuss the matter. You can discuss the difficulties you are experiencing as a result of a specific colleague’s behavior and how it is interfering with your work. For example, you could provide specific examples of the concerned individual’s intruding nature and its impact on your daily goal. At the same time, you can make suggestions such as asking HR to intervene in order to resolve the issue or limiting your tasks with him/her.

Because the company’s boss does not have time to address every complaint, these complaints may be dismissed. If you believe the dominant coworker is constantly overstepping, involve HR to handle the situation. The HR department exists to resolve workplace conflicts, and you should seek their assistance when you have no other options. Instead of playing the victim, you must speak out against wrongdoing and always be proactive in the workplace.