If you’re reading this article, you can already picture a colleague of yours who puts the lazy in laziness. It might be the extra breaks they take throughout the day or leaving for annual leave without finishing off their tasks, or those who seem to hustle and keep up with their workload thanks to others around them. It’s not unusual to find a lazy colleague in your team and they’re not always the easiest to deal with or put at the back of your mind.
Lashing out or telling tales won’t get you far, but there are a few things you can do to help distract you from the issue and keep your mental health in check.
5 ways to deal with lazy colleagues
- Don’t get distracted from your goals
- Think about who you are and who you want to be
- Be positive and don’t let them impact your attitude
- Push back where you can
- Reach out to HR or a trusted colleague or manager
Don’t get distracted from your goals
Stay focused on your workload and priorities. If you’re worried about others, you’re only distracting yourself from your own to-do list. Sit down with your manager to refocus and understand how you can stay on track with your work.
Be the best that you can
Take a deep breath (our breath in and out video works wonders) and take a step back. You need to ask yourself, how do you want to come across to others in your team and the wider business. Just remember, you are valued and most of the time, management does know who is and isn’t working to the best they can.
If you need some tips on how to find your inner peace, here are extra resources to help manage your stress.
Stay positive
In the moment, you can become frustrated and your own workload and performance may take a hit as your focus strays. Go back to the above points, take a deep breath and focus on yourself. Being around a grumpy colleague is as bad as working with a lazy colleague.
Push back where you can
Don’t let yourself fall into the trap where their work becomes your responsibility. But what you can do is drop them friendly reminders and deadlines. We’re living in a world where trello boards are part of our everyday routine - use that to your advantage. Tag your lazy colleague in posts and reminders where they can’t hide.
Talk to someone you trust
The best thing you can do is reach out to people you trust in your team, your manager or HR. Don’t get caught up in gossiping or complaining as you can come across unprofessional. Always think about your own personal brand.
If you’ve tried the above, it might be worth communicating with your lazy colleague, because they might not be lazy. They may be struggling to keep up with their current workload, tasks and deadlines. We suggest you approach them in a supportive manner where you can explain further and outline your goals, deadlines and commitments in more detail. This will help you and them in the long run.
Stay focused, be happy and go get those goals!