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The 25 Species of Coworkers
Alice Handley and Kayla Baxter
They might be lurking in the cubicle next to you or lounging in a cushy corner office. They could be e-nagging you daily or haunting your dreams at night. That’s right, the people you work with have the power to influence, annoy, inspire, and scare the living daylights out of you (work nightmares, anyone?).
Since you’re stuck with them 40 hours a week (at least!) you might as well understand them. We’ve come up with a field guide to the most common species of coworkers, no matter where you work. These types transcend every type of workplace — we guarantee you’ll find a few you recognize.
jencybevan
7 days ago
52 comments
This is great and I see several co-workers in this lot. Buutt, there are so many more. Like the Unorganized manager who is always late for meetings, if they show up at all; and thats for the meetings they scheduled. The Internet cruiser who always seems to be on the internet, talking to a family member or im-ing a friend when you walk by their desk, and then you are asked to help them out since they just can't get everything done (and they get paid more than you to boot). Or the Aging Technocrat who still thinks DOS is the state of the art operating systems and has temper fits when you ask why he made the decision he did about something.
r4i gold per dsi
vcj_jobsearch
19 days ago
2 comments
For the love of God, can't you make these articles available as single-page and/or PDF documents?
becky_regan
8 months ago
12 comments
It would be so awesome if they made a printout version of this so you could play bingo at work!
kikimac
8 months ago
24 comments
soo remember/know THE SCHMOOZER!! While I can see myself in a couple, this was an eye opener for sure!! Thanks!
Ashley
8 months ago
4 comments
I know a smiling backstabber, unfortunately, and sad to say that I think she got me pretty good. She really is a pro at it, so much that it's easy to get sucked back in to her devious ways. I don't know if the rest of the office is aware of it, since most of them are above her (she's a lowly admin assistant). I think she only plays her devious games with those she feels she has control over.
neelamaniam
8 months ago
12 comments
thnks for mailing such good article. hope to see more of this kind of acticles where can help in our management flow.
Donna_Agati
8 months ago
2 comments
This article was spot on. It's good to create an awareness just to make your worklife meaier to manage. Essentially, the best advice is to perform in your job function and give it your all. That's what your paid to do. Doing anything less is defrauding your employer. Also, it automatic job protection. The heirarchy is well aware of the workers and slackers, despite what others think.
Dee Dee from RVC
becky_regan
8 months ago
12 comments
What a great article!
Currin_B
8 months ago
214 comments
The Slacker - urgh those are SO annoying! It really is important to document everything that they do (or DON'T do.) That way when push comes to shove and it is time to give credit where it is due, there will be hard evidence to back up your work vs. theirs.
sandbar3000
8 months ago
70 comments
Yep, my dad again. He talked during the movie "Doubt" when I rented it when he visited me. Man, he just kept on talking over the movie. I'd say "OH, yeah, uh-hu, uh-ha, uh-ha, shhhhh".....and he's STILL talk over the movie. Asperger Syndrome sign.
sandbar3000
8 months ago
70 comments
My dad-yep. He did this when he was visiting the week of my graduation from University of Redlands....Man did he go into details of things-things that i did NOT need to know. ...Asperger Syndrome as well...
sandbar3000
8 months ago
70 comments
Why do people steal freaking staplers? Come on people. Get your damn own stapler at Staples! Use your own 5 bucks and purchase one. Idiots
sandbar3000
8 months ago
70 comments
Ahhh..introverted! Yes, many people think that everyone needs to be talk talk talk talk-all the time...what's wrong with introverts?
sandbar3000
8 months ago
70 comments
he he he..this IS Asperger Syndrome all the way. Think I'm going to some stupid work party were all people do is get drunk or drink? Shit. I'd do that with my closest friends-which are two people! Work picnics are stupid, people complain about work. As if they can't get away from their job. I'm not going to talk to people that I do not know--and my social skills---well, they are not a perfect 10, but I sure as hell do not get non-verbal cues. If you see someone like that in YOUR job (not just an office job folks), that person may have Asperger Syndrome. It's real and it's not "just" a childhood disorder. Look it up.
Account Removed
8 months ago
I saw myself in 3 of those "species". Two were positive and one was not. I love this article! I'm sending it to all of my friends and adding it to my Myspace page!