Each office has a mix of colleagues and all need managing in different ways. This is a guide on how to deal with different colleagues.

2. The Gossip
0 Every office has at least one, they have all the “news”
and want to share it all with you!
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Remember gossip contains both truth, lie and
exaggerated stories.
0 Also don’t get sucked in to making up stories or
spreading “gossip” of colleagues.
0 If you’re a manager:
0 Don’t participate in the gossip, be limited with the
information you divulge to them and if it becomes
regular, confront the gossip.

3. The Comedian
0 This character is one who is the office joker and
enjoys making people laugh.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Enjoy their jokes but gently remind them that you both
have work to do. Have lunch with them every so often as
they will be able to lift your spirits on a tough day.
0 If you’re a manager:
0 Think of them as an asset as they will be able to raise
the spirits of your staff. You could even learn from them
about how to motivate your staff. You might need to
remind them a few times to get on with work though!

4. The Chatterbox
0 The chatterbox is one who is friends with everyone
but struggles to concentrate on work.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Be polite with them and ask if you can chat at lunch
instead of during the working day.
0 If you are a manager:
0 Give them a mix of long projects and quick jobs, all with
deadlines to help them manage their day and their own
attention span.

5. The Multi-tasker
0 This colleague is one who always has more than one
plate spinning at once.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Check-in with them to see if you can support them. If
they are getting too stressed, help them prioritise and
manage their workload.
0 If you are a manager:
0 Ensure they are managing everything ok and are not
stressed. If they start dropping plates, sit with them and
re-evaluate what they need to do and what they should
delegate out.

6. The Moaner
0 The office moaner is one who is never happy and they
are either bored, ridiculously busy or not happy with
their work.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Don’t join in with the complaining and try and steer
them off the subject and they’ll get the message
eventually.
0 If you’re a manager:
0 Listen to their concerns and ask them to suggest
solutions to their problems rather than them
complaining.

7. The Delegator (Slacker)
0 The office delegator or “slacker” is one who looks like
they are working hard but barely breaks a sweat. They
are experts at getting others to do work for them.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Ask why they cannot get the task done, and if it becomes
a regular occurrence, report it to your boss. Ensure you
always prioritise your own tasks before theirs.
0 If you’re a manager:
0 Give them deadlines and ensure they will have plenty of
time to get it done. If it becomes obvious they have not
completed the work, ask them why they are unable to
complete their own work.

8. The Perfectionist
0 The perfectionist is one who has high standards, high
levels of professionalism and knows the company
inside and out.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Use them to proof-read documents or to help with
finishing off a project with professionalism.
0 If you’re a manager:
0 This person could be ideal to support you with strategy,
documentation or business finances. They could source
alternative finance options such as invoice factoring or
advise on how to how to improve working practices.

9. The Hero
0 The hero is one who works hard and creates great
pieces of work.
0 If you are a colleague:
0 Support then when you can and make friends with
them. They could become a mentor for you and help you
get into the good books of your boss.
0 If you’re a manager:
0 Reward this person with responsibilities and bigger
projects and thank this person for their hard work and
dedication.

10. Conclusion
0 All offices will have a mix of these characters and they
are important for a dynamic office environment.
0 All have their own place in the office, it is just about
how to manage each character individually.
0 Some characteristics will be of huge benefit to you so
it is important to help each employee to work to their
own individual strengths.