How Can Difficult Personalities Impact the Workplace?

Difficult workplace pezersonalities can negatively affect the well-being of individual workers as well
as entire organizations. Examples of "toxic behaviors" that can damage the workplace environment
include criticizing comments, gossip, double standards, yelling at others, and taking credit for the
work of others (Holloway & Kusy, 2009).

Even in the absence of difficult personalities, personality styles that do not work well together can
result in conflict. Naturally, conflicting personality styles is a common cause of workplace conflict
and disrespect (Gatlin, Wysocki, & Kepner, 2008). Problems can occur over the way that people
prefer to accomplish tasks or interact with one another. For example, some workers prefer not
socializing or distractions during certain hours and keep their office door closed while others see
this as unfriendly or even rude behavior. 

Difficult Workplace Personalities

The Gossip

 A common difficult personality type found in many office environments is "the gossip." This type
goes without much explanation, as it is common knowledge that people like this get their title from
talking about other people (often behind their backs) and spreading rumors about others (which are
often untrue or exaggerated versions of the truth). If you have ever found yourself in a conversation
with the gossip at your office, you probably know what to expect from them.

Office gossips often behave this way out of their own insecurities or to create drama in order to
entertain themselves. Actually, talking about other people may be a way to deflect attention away
from their own bad habits (e.g., poor work performance) or a way to create situations that they find
amusing.

The Flyer

 This difficult workplace personality is the highly emotional type who may "fly off the handle" at any
time. They may also be called the "drama queen" or "drama king" and are very emotionally reactive
people (Miller, 2014). Such people may have characteristics of histrionic personality disorder even if
they do not have the disorder itself. This personality type will show a "pattern of excessive
emotionality, attention-seeking, need for excitement for the purpose of getting emotional needs met"
(Miller, 2003, p. 427).
Oftentimes, you may find yourself attracted to this type of person in the office when they're in a
good mood because they can be funny, entertaining, and energetic. However, when types like this
feel like their needs are not getting met they may "fly off the handle" so to speak and became very
angry and dramatic. They may also be unreliable in completing tasks and bad about making
decisions based on emotions instead of facts and data (Miller, 2003).

¿Cómo pueden afectar las personalidades difíciles el lugar de trabajo?

Las peersonalidades difíciles en el lugar de trabajo pueden afectar negativamente el bienestar de

los trabajadores individuales, así como de organizaciones enteras. Los ejemplos de
"comportamientos tóxicos" que pueden dañar el entorno laboral incluyen críticas a los comentarios,
chismes, dobles estándares, gritar a los demás y tomar el crédito por el trabajo de los demás
(Holloway & Kusy, 2009).

Incluso en ausencia de personalidades difíciles, los estilos de personalidad que no funcionan bien
juntos pueden generar conflictos. Naturalmente, los estilos de personalidad conflictivos son una
causa común de conflicto y falta de respeto en el lugar de trabajo (Gatlin, Wysocki y Kepner, 2008).
Pueden surgir problemas sobre la forma en que las personas prefieren realizar tareas o interactuar
entre ellas. Por ejemplo, algunos trabajadores prefieren no socializar o distraerse durante ciertas
horas y mantener la puerta de su oficina cerrada, mientras que otros consideran que esto es una
conducta desagradable o incluso grosera.

Personalidades difíciles en el lugar de trabajo

El chisme

Un tipo de personalidad difícil común que se encuentra en muchos entornos de oficina es "el
chisme". Este tipo no tiene mucha explicación, ya que es de conocimiento común que gente como
esta obtiene su título al hablar de otras personas (a menudo a sus espaldas) y difundir rumores
sobre otros (que a menudo son versiones falsas o exageradas de la verdad). Si alguna vez se
encontró en una conversación con los chismes de su oficina, probablemente sepa qué esperar de
ellos.

Los cotilleos de las oficinas a menudo se comportan de esta manera fuera de sus propias
inseguridades o para crear drama con el fin de entretenerse. En realidad, hablar sobre otras
personas puede ser una manera de desviar la atención de sus propios malos hábitos (por ejemplo,
un rendimiento laboral deficiente) o una forma de crear situaciones que les diviertan.

El folleto
 Esta personalidad difícil en el lugar de trabajo es del tipo altamente emocional que puede "perder
el control" en cualquier momento. También se les puede llamar la "reina del drama" o "rey del
drama" y son personas muy reactivas emocionalmente (Miller, 2014). Esas personas pueden tener
características del trastorno de personalidad histriónico, incluso si no tienen el trastorno en sí. Este
tipo de personalidad mostrará un "patrón de emocionalidad excesiva, búsqueda de atención,
necesidad de emoción para cumplir con las necesidades emocionales" (Miller, 2003, p.427).

A menudo, puede sentirse atraído por este tipo de persona en la oficina cuando están de buen
humor porque pueden ser divertidos, entretenidos y enérgicos. Sin embargo, cuando los tipos
como este sienten que sus necesidades no se cumplen, es posible que "se salgan volando", por
así decirlo, y se vuelven muy enojados y dramáticos. También pueden ser poco confiables al
completar tareas y malas para tomar decisiones basadas en las emociones en lugar de hechos y
datos (Miller, 2003).

The Victim

The victim is yet another difficult personality type found in many offices and is an obvious one to
spot. This is the person who is often a constant complainer and attempts to draw people's attention
to their problems (or perceived problems) every day. For example, they may complain about their
work duties and try to convince everyone that they aren't treated fairly and have more work than
everyone around them. Or they may play the victim when something goes wrong on a team project
and claim that they were left out of important conversations. One study identified common
personality traits of workplace victims and found that they "tended to be less independent and
extroverted, less stable, and more conscientious than non-victims" (Coynea, Seignea & Randall,
2010, p.335).

 The Passive-Aggressive Type

 Passive-aggressive types can make very difficult coworkers to interact with, as they may not be as
easy to spot as others and can do real damage. They behave in phony ways - for example, hiding
their true feelings by pretending everything is okay when they're actually upset - and have a
tendency to appear calm, cool, and collected at all times since they keep their negative feelings
pushed deep down. However, a classic sign of this type is the fact that they may do things to
sabotage the work or performance of others, or get revenge in other quiet ways (e.g., stealing
someone's lunch).
Conclusion

Ultimately, all of us find ourselves working with difficult people and personalities at some point
during our career lives. By understanding what personality is and the common ones that cause
difficulty within workplaces, you may be able to better navigate your work relationships and protect
your own interests and well-being.

1. Read the article, and then decide if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. Circle the
right answer. Correct the false ones using your own words. Grammar and spelling will affect your
points. (NOTE: you need to fulfill both conditions in order to get a full point. Middle points
will not be given) 2 points each.

a) The article provides the reader with different strategies to deal with all the different personalities
at work. T or F

______________________________________________________________________________

b) The gossips try to hide their failures by creating stories about others. T or F

_______________________________________________________________________________

c) Despite being very extroverted, the flyer is a type of worker who always do what they promise
regarding tasks at work. T or F

_______________________________________________________________________________

d) Victims can be recognized because they do not take responsibility in situations where they are
involved. T or F

_______________________________________________________________________________

e) Passive-aggressive workers are not difficult to identify at the workplace because they usually are
clear about what they think. T or F

_______________________________________________________________________________

2. Find words or expressions in the text for the following meanings or synonyms (1 point each):
(ESTE PUNTO ES COMO UN DICCIONARIO AL REVES, USTEDES TIENEN LAS
DEFINICIONES, ASÍ QUE DEBEN BUSCAR LA PALABRA O EXPRESIÓN QUE CORRESPONDA
A LA DEFINICIÓN)

a) Talk about others; rumor: _________________(p.1)

b) Not polite or offensive: _________________ (p.2)

c) Something that is false or unreal: _________________ (p.3)

d) To change direction: ____________________ (p.4)

e) To react in a very angry way to something: __________________________ (p.5)

f) To see or notice someone or someone: _________________ (p.7)

g) Something that you have to do because is your responsibility: __________________ (p.7)

h) Unhappy or angry: ___________________ (p.8)

i) To damage or destroy something that belongs to your competitor: ________________(p.8)

j) The state of feeling healthy and happy: ______________________ (p.9)