Dealing With an Overly Competitive Colleague?
Staying professional when working with a toxic colleague is incredibly challenging. They can cause daily disagreements, create a tense atmosphere, and impact your mood and productivity. You have to recognize the signs and use strategies to fix the problem. Here are 10 signs your colleague is toxic and 10 ways they impact mental health.
1. They Always Gossip
Gossip can strain a work relationship. If you have a colleague who constantly gossips, you can be sure that they also have a lot to say about you behind your back. Gossiping is a classic sign that your colleague is toxic.
2. They Take Credit for Your Work
Few things are more annoying and demoralizing than watching someone steal your work thunder. Toxic colleagues are quick to claim ownership of group projects, ideas, and successes. They manipulate management's perception that they are the cog that turns the machine, even if it's really you.
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3. They Blame Everyone Else
Deflecting blame is a red flag that you're dealing with a toxic colleague. A coworker who lacks accountability when mistakes occur is scapegoating others to save face.
4. They're Super Competitive
Some healthy competition can be a great driving force. That said, toxic competition will absolutely crush motivation and momentum. When your colleague is obsessed with comparing results or brags whenever possible, they turn teamwork into a battlefield.
5. They Micromanage Others
A toxic colleague will overstep boundaries to dictate how others should work and dismiss opinions and input. Their control often stems from insecurity and is not a sign of their competence.
6. They Undermine You Publicly
Toxic colleagues will correct you during a meeting, roll their eyes, or even make rude remarks at your expense. These put-downs are meant to assert dominance over you and make you appear incompetent and less credible. It's professional bullying and will erode your confidence if left unchecked.
7. They Love Negativity
A colleague who turns every problem into a crisis is exhibiting classic toxic behavior. This type of colleague loves to complain, dismiss new ideas, and likes to focus on what's wrong rather than solutions that can fix the problem.
8. They Withhold Information
A toxic coworker tries to maintain their perceived power by hoarding information. They often "conveniently" forget to share updates and want you to miss deadlines or appear as if you don't know what you're doing. This creates a dynamic of control.
9. They Manipulate Relationships
Toxic people are masters of micro-manipulation. They might flatter a member of management, isolate a peer, or twist a story to make you look bad. They also like to play the victim to gain sympathy, and they are never devoted to teamwork.
10. They Cross Professional Boundaries
Whether it's being nosy about your private life or making inappropriate jokes, toxic coworkers don't care about respecting boundaries. They often feel a sense of entitlement to do whatever they want.
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1. They Increase Anxiety
Toxic coworkers create environments that will keep you on edge throughout your workday. You will start overthinking every email, expect to be criticized, and every interaction will cause your anxiety to spiral.
2. They Erode Self-Confidence
A toxic colleague will mock you, exclude you, or openly question your ability. They want you to start doubting yourself, and over time, they will be successful. Even talented performers will begin second-guessing themselves because of the efforts of a toxic coworker.
3. They Cause Emotional Burnout
Dealing with workplace toxicity will drain you emotionally and mentally. Every conversation will turn into a calculation where you are confused about what to say or do. This will lead to burnout and a level of exhaustion that no time off can fix.
4. They Disrupt Sleep and Focus
It's hard not to take the stress caused by a toxic colleague home with you. These types of coworkers occupy your thoughts and will have you tossing and turning in bed as you replay conversations or worry about retaliation.
5. They Trigger Feelings of Isolation
A toxic colleague will turn others against you to socially and professionally isolate you. They might exclude you from important meetings or not invite you to a team lunch.
6. They Normalize Unhealthy Behavior
A toxic colleague will convince you that manipulation, gossip, and disrespect are "just the way things go around here". They reshape your sense of what's normal and professional. Ultimately, you will begin to tolerate what you once felt was unacceptable.
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7. They Make You Feel Insecure
Closely working with a toxic person will have you anticipating the next disagreement, outburst, criticism, or betrayal. You will have a tough time feeling safe and secure in your job, and your nervous system will be on edge every weekday.
8. They Diminish Your Motivation and Passion
Working with toxic people will kill your passion for your career. If your effort is always criticized or your success is never recognized, you will eventually disengage from your job and will stop caring about your projects and your quality of work.
9. They Make You Feel Like an Imposter
When you're consistently undermined or mocked by a toxic colleague, you will start to question your abilities and whether you deserve your job. Imposter syndrome will fester around people and in environments that are determined to make you feel insignificant.
10. They Make You Dread Work
No one wants to sit close to a toxic colleague or run the risk of having to deal with them in a meeting with superiors. Toxic colleagues ensure you are stressed every morning and filled with anxiety every Sunday night.
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