The workplace is a blend of people with different personalities and skills. There are bound to be clashes if not properly handled. This notwithstanding, the key is understanding and accommodating your colleagues so that you can have a conducive work environment. Your colleagues make up a team, it would be helpful to accentuate their strengths and get along with them. However, there are some characteristics that point to a person as a toxic co-worker. These include:
1.Gossiping
When you talk behind your boss or co-workers, you are a gossip. Work hours that should be used productively shouldn’t be spent gossiping about people. A person who does this is not trustworthy and rips himself/herself with integrity.
2. Self-centredness
Do you want to take the glory for a job well-done when it was a collective effort? A toxic worker wants everything to be all about them. They want to attract all the praises and favours. However, a good worker is a good team player who gives credit to all concerned.
3. Irresponsibility
A toxic worker does not like to claim responsibility for faults or mistakes. It is one thing to commit errors, it is another to take responsibility and make amends. A toxic worker is none of these rather he/she runs away and pushes the blame to someone else or makes flimsy excuses.
4.Not teachable
As much as everyone puts their best foot forward in the workplace and brands themselves as professional, there is still room for growth and development. A toxic worker would never admit to being a learner. When a worker is teachable, they are able to learn new things and perform better.
5. Discriminatory
A toxic worker discriminates a lot . They discriminate based on one’s skin colour, state of origin, gender or language. The work place needs to be accommodating as workers are working towards a common goal for the betterment of the company. Hence, there is no need for discrimination but a toxic worker would do otherwise.