4. LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY:
You don’t know what is going on with your coworker, so listen to him as he explains. Maybe his mother is ill and that’s making him more irritable. Maybe he’s worried about under performing or doesn’t feel valued as a team member. Understanding where the negativity is coming from can help you work together to reduce it. In many cases, your colleague may just be glad to have someone to listen.
*Use empathetic statements, such as “That sounds like it’s
really hard for you” or “I’m sorry you’re going through that.”
*Even if the conversation doesn’t go well, you have tried to
address the problem. If you need to take the matter to HR or
to your boss, you will be able to say you tried to work with the
other person and didn’t get anywhere.
