Are You Working with a Shark?

From Sharknado to Shark Week, sharks are everywhere these days – even in the office!

In the workplace, sharks are people who can have a negative impact on how you do your job. Their negative behavior may occasionally rise to the level of bullying, but not to the point that gets them fired. Avoiding shark attacks is a necessity in today’s workplace and doing so can be easy with the right strategies. Consider the following tips for dealing with your workplace shark.

Know your breed of shark

Marine biologists know that dealing with a tiger shark is much different than dealing with a hammerhead. Likewise, you should determine what kind of office shark you have on your hands, so you can deal with him or her effectively.

Some kinds of office shark are worse than others, from the docile credit-taker, to the more aggressive backstabber. Identifying the kind of shark on your hands helps you work with them and keeps you from getting bit. For instance, if you’re working with a shark who takes credit for your hard work, you’ll know to document all your contributions so it’s obviously who did what.

Don’t make sudden movements

In the ocean, sharks are drawn to anything that looks like it might be struggling. In the office, sharks are often drawn to people who are struggling or unprofessional in their actions.

When dealing with a workplace shark, it’s best not to give them any material to pounce on. For instance, don’t talk bad about your boss or your shark could make sure it gets back to them. If you’re struggling to get your work done, approach your boss with any issues before the shark has a chance to complain about your performance.

Move in a pack

There’s safety in numbers, as they say, and a workplace shark is less likely to strike if you have a healthy, trusting relationships all around you. Focus on building strong bonds with your most trusted colleague so you can all have each other’s back.

Know the warning signs

Shark attacks are easier to anticipate once you know the warning signs. Pay attention to your workplace shark for signs he or she feels irritated or threatened. If you notice indications, know how to sidestep an attack or defend yourself. For instance, if you and a gossiping shark are both up for the same promotion, be sure that the decision makers involved get the right information about your performance with the company and let them know you’re always available to clear up any questions they might have about your track record.

Don’t provoke the shark

If you’re feeling confident or your workplace shark just had a major setback, it might be tempting to stick it to the office tormentor. However, doing so could make you look bad or it could invite retaliation down the road.

At Career Concepts, we regularly help people get out of a bad job situation. If you’re currently looking to escape a particularly vicious workplace shark, please contact us today.