Disagreeable Co-Workers: Can They Help Your Career?

Annoying co-workers are a fact of life. But unless you want to live on a lone sailboat instead of having a successful finance career, there’s no way to get away from them. However, it is possible that they could help you get ahead in the finance world if you have the right mindset.

The strategy to adapt is “watch and learn.” Observe what makes your co-workers tick, and learn the way that other people to react to them. For example, while office clowns can be a riot, most often they go too far. See who thinks they’re funny, and learn about what makes your co-workers laugh. Knowing when to use a little humor will endear you to the right people. However, use caution; you don’t want the jokes to go too far and be perceived as the new office clown.

Some co-workers are so quiet that they fade right into the wallpaper. If you tend to be shy or quiet, make an effort to speak up from time to time and get to know a few people in the office. If you always stay to yourself, people might think you don’t have anything valid to say and aren’t contributing. Don’t shut yourself in—speak up.

Gossips who relish in spreading personal details like wildfire can also teach a good lesson. Learn to be the office gossip, but only when it’s for professional information that’s relevant to the business. In other words, you want people to think of you as the person who knows what’s going on. Circulate professional news, and people will think of you as well informed and reliable.

Everyone hates a brown-noser, but every boss is glad to have a trusted ally. Make an effort to please your boss without being obvious or going over the top. Don’t cheerlead, but do champion. Choose to praise specific actions your boss took to help a project or bolster a client relationship. Proving your awareness of their responsibilities also gives you a chance to show that yours are integral as well.

While co-workers can be crazy, the best way to live with them is to enjoy what they can teach you. Watch them and learn about the office dynamic, and you’ll stay above the fray. You’ll probably have a good time doing it, too.