Chances are, in your job, you will have come across at least one type of person that you’ve found it difficult to work with. Here are fourteen types of difficult people you may meet at work and advice for understanding and getting along with each one.

1. The Telltale

Telltales are very good at discovering every little mistake you make made at work and then telling on you making them look good and you look bad.

Coping strategy: Be on your best behaviour and just do your job. If you do everything you are supposed to be doing, there won't be anything to tell on. Make sure you regularly update your boss on your projects so tell tales can’t take advantage of anything you’ve overlooked.

2. The Gossip

The gossip seems to know everything about everyone and want to share it. They can be the cause of arguments because a lot of the time the information they spread is false. One minute, they talk to you about other colleagues and then the next thing you know you’re the subject of the gossip. The gossip is a dangerous type because he or she has the ability to tarnish your reputation.

Coping strategy:

Don't become a gossip too. Remember that anything you say can be held against you. If the rumour is about you, find out the person who started it calmly and in private. Explain to them what you’ve heard which is true and hurtful. They will feel guilty and apologise if you are approach this in a calm and rational way.

3. The Agreeable One

Your agreeable colleague just wants to be liked and will agree to anything but then fail to deliver.

Coping strategy: Make it clear they can express an opinion and still be your friend. Help them to prioritise because they don’t know how to say ‘no.’

4. The Delegator

The delegator is someone who either does not want to take the work load or cannot do it. Delegators hand over work to their colleagues when they are not their managers.

Coping strategy: If team work is encouraged in your office and you have time to help your colleague you should. However, you have your hands full and only managers can delegate then tell your co-worker you have your own work to do.

5. The Criticiser

Criticisers criticise others to make themselves look and feel better. Typically they are the ones who make fun of others e.g. who is the worst dressed. They seem to pick fights for no reason and disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

Coping strategy: Complimenting the criticiser on a job well done can help focus their attention on the positives. Managers can help negative and critical employees by pointing out where they excel and giving them a project to take charge of to build a more positive attitude.

6. The Complainer

There’s always one person who can never find anything to be happy about. They keep on whining about their heavy workload and can’t complete their projects quietly because they keep procrastinating and complaining. Whether it’s health, family or work, the incessant complaining will eventually wear you out.

Coping Strategy: Generally, the complainer isn't looking for advice so offering it probably won't do any good. You could try empathetically saying something like ‘I don’t know how you deal with all of these problems’ and then they’ll probably admit ‘well it’s not that bad.’ If you’ve really had enough, you can hint by saying something like, well, as we all know, nothing can be done about this.’

7. The Slacker

There is nothing more frustrating than doing all the work while your lazy colleague sits around doing nothing. The Slacker often claims he or she is “too busy” to help out yet will make time to make tea and surf the web during office hours.

Coping strategy: Slackers are sometimes oblivious to the fact that there is work to be done so you might have to tell them. If not, don't take on their duties, let the work pile up and their boss will notice the backlog. If you are managing a slacker you can make sure they carry their weight by documenting the responsibilities of everyone on a project with deadlines and asking for updates.

8. The Credit Grabber

The credit grabber accepts all the credit for a project without mentioning that he or she didn’t do it alone or steal your ideas and take the glory when a project is successful. They are usually insecure and nowhere to be found when things go wrong.

Coping Strategy: The first time this happens, consider it a mistake. If it happens again, keep a written record of your activities and accomplishments. Give your manager regular status reports about the projects you’re working on so they know what your role was.

9. The Drama Queen/King

Drama queens/kings cloud discussions with emotion and are overly dramatic in their responses. Nothing is ever their fault and they often speak without thinking.

Coping strategy: When the drama queen/king bring up their personal problems, just say "I'm sorry to hear that," then say that you have to get back to work. If they initiate work related conversations give them your attention. If everyone uses this approach consistently, the drama will decrease.

10. The Know-it-all

Know it alls think they have all the answers and believe they are experts when they are not. They often feel they are superior to other people and are often poor listeners. It’s tricky to reason with them because they think only their ideas are right and feel personally insulted when they are overruled.

Coping strategy: The best thing you can do is to arm yourself with the facts and then get them onside by inviting discussion and asking for explanations and ideas. They will find it hard to hold onto their ideas if you can provide evidence that another idea or another way may be better.

11. The Late One

Late colleagues never do anything on time. They never refuse but they just keep putting things off. Usually, the reason for procrastination is that the work is too difficult.

Coping strategy: Try to find out what the problem is and help them overcome it, if you can. Or you can tell them something is due Friday when it is really due Monday. If they don't meet the deadlines they need to be held accountable.

12. The Backstabber

Back stabbers tend to be nice and helpful on the surface but they do this to gather ammunition and then use it to cause trouble. If you make a mistake, they will be the first to let everyone know. They can cause damage to you and your reputation.

Coping strategy: The easiest thing to do is to do your job. They can’t say anything if you are doing your job or if you have nothing to say to them. If you feel the backstabber is seriously trying to ruin your career, keep careful notes with dates, times, witnesses and what they’ve said and either speak to them directly or take this to your manager.

13. The Indecisive One

The indecisive work colleague doesn’t want to disappoint anyone and is overly concerned with other peoples’ personal feelings. Indecision is often related to lack of self confidence and a tendency to worry about potential problems.

Coping Strategy: In my experience, indecisive people know what they want to do but lack the confidence to trust their judgement. As a colleague, make it comfortable for them to talk through with you concerns about their decision. Let them see the steps you take to make a decision. For managers break the problem into manageable parts and offer them some rationale, background and examples to help with decision making.

14. The Bully

Bullies can be rude, aggressive and negative about people. They blame others and never take responsibility for their own actions. Usually bullies are very insecure.

Coping Strategy:

The best thing to do is to tackle the problem and talk directly to the bully, sticking to facts not opinions. Try to understand what makes them behave the way they do and when taking to them, keep things unemotional. A simple phrase like ‘stop talking to me like this,’ said firmly will send a clear message.