Toxic Coworkers – 6 Types of Psychologically Toxic Coworkers 

I have spoken a lot about difficult bosses, but sharing the workplace with toxic coworkers also greatly affects our mental sanity. Read on for more on 6 types of psychologically toxic coworkers that might be bringing you down… 

My personal experience of working with a toxic coworker or colleague was having my energy sucked out of me, even when there was minimum interaction. Even when I was not working, the negative thoughts would still bounce in my mind. 
Most people don’t know how to identify a toxic coworker. And the awareness itself can make all the difference.

So here are 6 types of psychologically toxic coworkers…

1. The Bully: This toxic colleague is aggressive and has firecracker responses. They are blunt, sarcastic or intimidating. They may make fun of your work or ideas, or belittle you in front of others.
   
2. The Gossip Mongers: This coworker’s only claim to fame is talking about people behind their backs. They may try to create drama and sow discord among team members.
   
3. The Underminer: This toxic colleague undermines your work and efforts, often in subtle ways. They may take credit for your work, sabotage your projects, or minimise your contributions.
   
4. The Dramatic: This toxic colleague thrives on attention and drama. They may overreact to small issues, make a big deal out of minor mistakes, or create chaos and confusion.
   
5. The Slacker: This colleague doesn’t pull their weight and expects others to pick up the slack. They may miss deadlines, skip out on responsibilities, or refuse to contribute to group projects.
   
6. The Micromanager: This coworker is overly controlling, interfering and doesn’t trust anyone else. They may constantly check in, pathologically follow up, find fault, or interfere with your projects.

It’s important to remember that dealing with toxic colleagues can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Therefore, one of the key things to know is – don’t feed into the toxicity. Don’t give it too much attention, don’t take it personally, don’t overreact, and don’t engage (only the bare minimum is enough).
Focus on your work, surround yourself with positivity, dream your dreams, grow and evolve. Nothing can affect you unless you allow it. Hence, don’t let it pull you down; give others the power to affect you. Will you try it? 🙂 
That to me is being truly empowered. Your thoughts? 

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