There are always one or two characters in the office who just rub us up the wrong way or always seem to have it in for us. The trick is learning how to get on with them so as they no longer have the power to drain us. The following article will outline all of their little traits and show us how to deal with them.

Of course, personalities change from company to company but you are certain to recognise some of the characters mentioned below…you never know, you may even spot yourself amongst the descriptions!

The Grump: Yes, we all know one or two of them. You could be blind but still recognise The Grump from his constant complaining. He has either woken in a bad mood, the coffee isn’t strong enough or the heating is up too high or low etc.

Tactics…The Grump would love nothing more than for you to agree with his every moan but the best way to deal with him is to keep conversation light, little and focussed on work. Do not indulge him by allowing him to dwell on his gripes. Try to be cheery and friendly around him and you never know, your light-heartedness could help to lift his mood a little.

The People Lover: The one who can sense every emotion that is flying around the office and resonate with it…The People Lover always has some funny quip up her sleeve, never allows the conversation to run dry and always captivates her audience. Always there to steal your thunder, The People Lover is popular, fun to be around and happy go lucky...

Tactics…Well, she may be the social guru of the office and you may grimace at her natural ability to have people eating out of her hand but unlike The Grump, The People Lovers are really easy to get along with. They are friends with everyone and will certainly get along with you. The morale here is “If you can’t beat em, join em” so return them the same courteousness as they give you and you could even help to raise your own profile in the office along the way!

The Mother Theresa: The kind and caring type…Mother Theresa will always be there to feel your pain and try to ease it. When the gossips start turning on you, this little gem will be by your side to help make you feel better…if someone mocks your ideas at the office meeting, she will be there to support you and when you’ve spilled hot coffee over your lap, she will be there with the paper tissues to clean you up.

Tactics…Mother Theresa will always be there for you as long as you do not take her for granted or find her too suffocating. She will remain loyal for years but if you should double cross her, there will be very little you can do to win back her trust. Always ensure that you give her gratitude for the things that she does for you and try to return the favour by listening to her when she needs to talk about something on her mind or help her with anything that she is finding difficult.

The Loose Tongue: The name says it all…the office gossip, the one we dread. The type that knows everything about everyone. No matter how many departments you have in your office block, The Loose Tongue will be able to fill you in on all the latest news connected with both their business and private life. They appear friendly simply to siphon information which is slowly drip fed to other colleagues.

Tactics…Keep conversation strictly related to work and do not reveal anything about your private life. The Loose Tongue may appear genuinely interested but you should make it a rule to keep your business and private life separate. Stay friendly with this person and demonstrate that you do not indulge in gossip by keeping conversation directed to work. By showing your colleagues that you can be trusted with any private information will strengthen your position within the team.

The Creator: We know they are there, they sit alone and rarely partake in general conversation. In fact, they are so quiet, we often struggle to remember their name. These are the thinkers, the visionaries of the office, the ones who think outside of the box and come up with innovative ideas and suggestions.

Tactics…Try not to invade their space by bombarding them with conversation. The creator will come to you when he has something to share. The best way to deal with this type of person is to present a task and let them work their magic quietly in the background. Don’t try to encourage them to part of the team either, this type of person will always sit on the sidelines. However, acknowledging their presence and providing encouragement will ensure that they are in synch with the rest of the office.

The Gripe: Guaranteed to wind you up even when you are feeling on top of the world. The Gripe is on a mission to find fault with everything that you do. Being perfect themselves, they have acquired the art of being able to spot mistakes in everyone else but will very rarely offer any useful suggestion to rectify them.

Tactics…The best way to mentally deal with the gripe is to appreciate that the problems lie with them. Whenever you are criticised, The Gripe is actually reacting to their own insecurities by projecting them upon some other poor soul. So, stay calm and composed and never take any of the criticisms to heart or lose your temper. By doing so, your other work colleagues will remember how you reacted and it is impossible to undo something which has been said.

The Director: Okay, he is probably the filing clerk but he sees himself as the director and was born to take the lead. An assertive character who will tell things as they are and is to the point…These people have little time for flakiness and expect results. Whenever, you have doubts or difficulties with a project, The Director will have all of the answers and can actually help you overcome them.

Tactics…Do your very best around The Director as he will expect nothing but top quality work. Take his advice and use it…learn the way that he likes to have things done and comply. If you want to get ahead, you need to show that you are willing to work hard and are highly conscientious… Practise these skills and you will collaborate well together.

So there you have it, some of the characters you are likely to work with on a daily basis. Being able to adapt to these personality differences is an art but one which can be learned. This will help you to find a healthy balance and blend with all of your colleagues until it is time to head off home and simply be yourself.