13 most common destructive workplace behaviors

[Md. Anikuzzaman]

Gary, a senior technology architect, was annoying. Not just a little annoying, very annoying. He was always telling others what to do while his own work was getting stale sitting on his computer.

Yes, he was good at his job — if he would only do it instead of telling everyone else what he thought they should do. When his teammates saw him coming, they would make a quick exit until he went the other way.

Once you recognize common and destructive personality types, you can do something about them. You can transform them to flip to the other side, the positive side.

Once you recognize common and destructive personality types, you can do something about... more

Every workplace has a Gary, or some version of him. There is the gal on your team who never stops complaining or the hotshot newbie who is always talking about her past successes or the guy with the bad jokes who takes up so much air time at meetings.

In fact, haven't you found that there are so many different personality characteristics that drive you nuts at one time or another? These frustrations are understandable. The big question, however, is why do some people behave in ways that hit your hot buttons and what can be done about it?

And then there are times you have to look in your own mirror and ask, "Why do I always respond to braggarts or whiners in such a negative way?"

The destructive ones
Below are the 13 most annoying and common patterns that show up at work. You will see your boss or direct report, or maybe the person who sits just down the hall from you. You may see your mother-in-law, who judges everything, or your sister, who was always attempting to make you look foolish. And maybe you will see a part of yourself.

Here is the good news: These patterns are real.

This is good news? Yes, once you recognize them, you can do something about them. You can transform them to flip to the other side, the positive side. But first, you need to observe them:

Super achiever: must win at all costs
Rebel: can't accept any authority
Procrastinator: won't finish anything
Clown: reduces everything to a joke
Persecutor: bullies people into misery
Victim: too scared to take any action
Rescuer: demands to be the big hero
Drama queen/king: makes emotional scenes
Martyr: does everyone else's work
Pleaser: says what folks want to hear
Avoider: dodges work and responsibility
Denier: won't face problems directly
Splitter: secretly sets up conflict
Understanding personality types
There are ways to cope with the people who fit these patterns. Better yet, there are ways to go beyond coping and help them transform to more productive ways of responding. And if you find one or two of these patterns "sticky" (as in, has your name on it), you too can find the way out.

First you observe the pattern, then you understand where it started and finally you have the power to transform for the better.

I don't want you to think this is an instant fix. It is not. Changing behavior in anything beyond a superficial way requires discipline, time and commitment. However, it is possible to make change happen, once you look back at where the patterns started in your original organization: the family. And when you do, the rewards are amazing — more honest communication, better relationships, optimized teamwork, better financial results and the deep fulfillment that comes with living a more authentic life.

Emotional intelligence is important and becoming pattern aware is the next layer of leadership development.

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/human-resources/2015/04/13-most-common-destructive-workplace-behaviors.html