Working With People you don't Click with.

In every job Iv’e ever had, there has always been someone I didn’t get along with.Every workplace has them—colleagues who rub you the wrong way. Maybe it's the person who talks over everyone in meetings, the one who never pulls their weight on group projects, or someone whose communication style just grates on you. The reality is, we don't get to choose our coworkers the way we choose our friends. So how do we navigate these relationships without losing our minds—or our jobs?

Start With Curiosity, Not Judgment

Before writing someone off, consider what might be driving their behavior. The colleague who seems cold might be overwhelmed with personal issues. The one who micromanages might have been burned before by missed deadlines. This isn't about excusing poor behavior—it's about recognizing that most people aren't actively trying to make your life difficult. Understanding their perspective can shift how you respond to them.There have been many times in my working life, where Iv’e had difficult things to navigate and try to process while working. Such things like unexpected bereavements, and serious health issues can make life stressful.Communicating what you’re going through, to a trusted colleage, supervisor or even the boss, canbe helpful because it may lead to a better understanding of your situation, and hopefully support from those around you.Trying to go through a tough time alone can be extremely difficult.Been there done that. Don’t recommend it.

Focus on What You Can Control

You can't change someone else's personality, but you can change how you engage with them. A few practical approaches:

• Set clear boundaries. If someone constantly interrupts your work, establish specific times when you're available versus focused.

• Communicate directly. Many workplace tensions stem from assumptions and unspoken frustrations. A calm, honest conversation often resolves more than months of silent resentment.

• Find common ground. Even with people you dislike, there's usually something you can connect on—a shared goal, a mutual interest, or simply the desire to do good work.

Know When It's You

This is uncomfortable, but worth considering: sometimes the problem is coming from you. Being triggered by what a work colleage said or did, isn’t really their issue, it’s yours. Yes, we do bring our biases, judgements, beliefs and fixed viewpoints with us, into a work environment and with everyone doing that, no wonder there is conflict at times.In these situations, I found someone I could chat to about my issue because sometimes that person can point out that I was or am part of the issue...no easy to swallow but true.In a strange way, difficult people can be beneficial because they can show you where or what you need to heal within yourself.Life lessons you have been ignoring or suppressing and don;t want to face, for whatever reason.These lessons don’t go away until you learn them...so the sooner you deal with them, the betterbecause they just keep repeating.So are you bringing assumptions from a past experience?Is this person triggering something that has nothing to do with them?Self-awareness won't fix everything, but it can prevent you from escalating conflicts unnecessarily.

When to Stay and When to Go

Not every difficult relationship is worth saving. If someone is genuinely toxic—manipulative, abusive, or consistently undermining you—that's a different situation entirely. In those cases, document what's happening, involve HR if needed, and protect yourself.

Leaving a job because of one challenging colleague is often an overreaction. Difficult people exist everywhere. Running from this one just means meeting the next one at your new company. The skills you build managing these relationships will serve you throughout your career.

That said, if the entire culture is broken, if leadership enables bad behavior, or if the situation is affecting your mental health despite your best efforts—leaving becomes a legitimate option, not a failure.At some point, something just snaps and that’s when you know inside of you that enough is enough

is enough...I’m out of here.

The Bottom Line

Working with people you don't naturally connect with is one of the most underrated professional skills. It requires patience, self-awareness, and a willingness to see beyond your initial reactions. You won't become best friends with everyone—and you don't need to. The goal is mutual respect and functional collaboration.

Some of these relationships will surprise you. People who seemed impossible at first sometimes become trusted colleagues once you find a way through. Others will remain challenging. Both outcomes are fine. What matters is that you've handled it with professionalism and preserved your own integrity in the process.