Backstabber - What to do with a Sneaky Coworker

Most of us go to our jobs every day hoping that things go smoothly, that we do our jobs well, and that other people will treat us fairly. When you are suddenly faced with a backstabber--a coworker who makes you look bad on purpose--you are often unsure of what to do. This kind of thing can take you by surprise, especially when you thought this coworker was your friend. The sad truth is, however, that often greed and ambition will take precedence over fairness and friendship when it comes to getting a promotion or a raise.

Dealing with a backstabber can be tricky. When you find that a coworker has made you look bad or blamed you for something that he or she has done, your normal first reaction is usually anger. You have every right to be angry at backstabbers, but acting in anger can and will most likely backfire on you. You may end up looking like the person who cannot control yourself. In fact, the boss may come to see you as the person who is trying to make others look bad. This can start a pattern with the backstabber that goes downhill for you at an increasingly rapid pace.

There are ways to deal with a backstabber effectively. When you find out that a coworker has made you look bad or blamed you for something that he or she did, don't do anything at first. Squelch your reaction to immediately strike out. Take a few deep breaths. Take a break and go outside if that's possible. Come to grips with the fact that this person is not your friend, nor even a fair coworker. You want to devise a plan to exonerate yourself if you have been cast in a bad light by the backstabber. If you have documentation that can back it up, gather it together. If there are other coworkers who can back you up, talk with themï¿½but be careful, often situations like these can be about choosing sides. Some of them may be on the other person's side.

One of the best things that you can do to thwart the efforts of a backstabber is to use prevention tactics. Backstabbers can't hurt you if you can back everything up with documentation, so do so continuously. When you are on a project, document everything you do. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing; you simply want to have proof of what you are doing and how you are doing it. Backstabbers can't be successful unless they catch you being sloppy. Stay diligent and you should be fine.

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Title:	Backstabber - What to do with a Sneaky Coworker
Author:	Samatha Moron
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Backstabber - What to do with a Sneaky Coworker