Yes – there are jerks out there ---

“Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollar”s. - Warren Buffett

We have all worked with one or more – the office jerk. The behavior is toxic and they just don’t seem to go away. I am sharing a blog from Brett Hillman written by Brian Jenkins (BrainTrack.com bhillman@braintrack.com) which I think is excellent on how to handle the office jerk and by the way, ignorance of the behavior does not work! Here are Brian’s thoughts ….

How to Effectively Deal with an Office Jerk Without Getting Arrested
Yes, it's possible to diplomatically deal with office jerks, who can come in all shapes and sizes, either gender, and any age.
Mitchell Kusy, Ph.D., a Fullbright scholar and professor at Antioch University, spent years studying the cause and effects of behavior of toxic co-workers. He and his colleagues surveyed 500 corporate leaders that were identified by co-workers as "toxic." Most of them stated they had no idea how people at the workplace perceived their behavior.
Julie Jansen, a workplace consultant and author of the book You Want Me to Work With Who?, said, "Don't assume that people know they're being challenging or difficult." Many office jerks are surprised that their behavior annoys or offends co-workers.
Ken Lloyd has a Ph.D in Organizational Behavior and authored Jerks at Work. He said, "You can't ignore a jerk's behavior because it will get worse until he gets your attention. Typically, jerks engage in bad behavior to get a reaction and they'll just turn up the volume until they get you."
Don't be Intimidated
When dealing with a jerk, keep these tips in mind:
• Don't give in to a pushy co-worker.
• Be assertive but not aggressive when dealing with an office jerk.
• Acting aggressively gives the jerk an excuse to become an "extreme jerk."
• Don't try and please an intimidator - stay consistent with your values and beliefs.
• Don't back down.
Jerks won't show it, but they actually respect people they can't intimidate.
There are a number of different “types” of jerks you might cross in the office. Here is some advice on how to deal with them:
The Rumor Spreading Office Jerk
How to respond:
• Ignoring this person may arouse suspicion that you're hiding juicy information.
• Respond cautiously.
• Anything you say is enhanced, twisted, and slowly (or maybe not so slowly) spread all over the office. Watch what you say.
• Keep the conversations short. If you comment on rumors about co-workers, you'll unintentionally become part of the rumor squad.
The Manipulator
This person ingratiates himself or herself to you then proceeds to use you for their own advantage. They'll take credit for your work. Their compliments drip with insincerity. They get what they can out of you, then simply dump you.
Hide your weaknesses from a manipulator. Don't say anything you don't want repeated - they'll twist your words. Keep the conversations short and work oriented.
The Bully
These annoying office workers are often impatient, bossy, and quick-tempered. They make snarky remarks to make people feel small.
Steve Piazzale, a career and life coach who runs BayAreaCareerCoach.com, said, "Hold your ground and refuse to be bullied. They'll usually back off over time."
Take the high road and politely offer specific and constructive feedback. Yes, it takes some courage! If the bully doesn't change his attitude, don't play his game; he's trying to get you to react in a negative manner.
Leave office bullies alone. You can ask your boss to intervene on your behalf; however, a reprimand may cause defensiveness and resentment.
If the office jerk doesn't grow up, just ignore his bad behavior - his actions say a lot about him and nothing about you.
Brian Jenkins writes about a number of different college and career topics for BrainTrack.com, including careers in business management.
Sources:
• How to Spot Workplace Bullies and Creeps
• How to Deal with Office Jerks
• Getting Along with an Office Jerk

So get the idea? Deal with the jerk – put them in their place, with tact and diplomacy. And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Dan Moran
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