Three tips for working with a toxic colleague

https://fcw.com/blogs/lectern/2016/10/kelman-working-with-toxic-colleagues.aspx

long-time squabbles over promotions, resources and power create embittered workplace foes who would rather walk across the street than share a sidewalk with each other.” This is probably even more the case in government organizations than private ones, since in the private sector it is easier to get rid of problems by firing or reassigning people in dysfunctional relationships.

The first has the enormous virtue of being straightforward rather than devious or wily, tactics that always run the risk of backfiring, but even more so when relationships are already hostile. “Attempt to reconcile,” Perry urges. Try “the old-fashioned approach and sit down and propose a fresh restart,” he writes. “Bring your humility and focus on describing why a thaw is best for the team and firm. Once a détente is agreed upon, make certain to find ample opportunities to display good faith.”

seek to “partner with the adversary to navigate a crisis” as a way to repair a bad relationship.

overcoming this hostility was to put the boys in a situation where they could not deal with a problem with only the people in one group, but work by both groups was necessary. (so it is a management’s failure, what we have here, since the management does not even want to recognize that there is a problem)

The third piece of advice is to engage a broker. “Particularly for situations involving warring… senior executives,” Perry notes, “the temporary use of a broker or intermediary can facilitate progress on issues.”