Send This Story
The 13 Most Annoying People To Work With
Every office has them, but are you one of them?
by Christine Lambden and Casey Connor
April 21, 2009
C
an you name the 13 most annoying people to work with in the office? Even worse, are you
one of them? Read the humorous list of the 13 most annoying people to work with, and let's hope you
are not one them!
1.
Pontification Person - This person goes on and on, telling you what they're going
to say, saying it and then telling you what they said.
2.
Um Person - To avoid losing control of the conversation, this co-worker fills ever
pause with "Um," not realizing that they might be able to think better if they weren't talking.
3.
Too Much Detail Person - 'nuff said.
4.
50,000 Foot-Only Person - He or she is eloquent when you talk about the big
picture, but refuses to allow anyone to get into the details, which we all know is where the real
work gets done. Unless you're the CEO of a multi-national corporation, you have to be willing to
work at any altitude.
5.
Hypnotized-by-Email-Person - If you go to the trouble to think of a meeting topic,
send out an invitation, invent an agenda and prepare slides, you naturally expect people who show
up for your meeting to pay attention while you talk. Wireless technology has made it possible for
people to multi-task very effectively, but there is nothing more defeating than presenting to the
tops of the people's heads because everyone at the conference table is hunched over his or her
laptop.
6.
Buzzword Person - This employee is annoying in meetings, team rooms and in
cubicles. In fact, this person is just plain annoying all the time.
7.
Foul Language Person - Much like Buzzword Person, this co-worker is obviously too
lazy to think of the right words to express what they are thinking, if indeed they are thinking at
all, but this person isn't trying to impress you with his knowledge. They aren't trying to impress
you at all. They don't care what you think of them.
8.
Reiteration Person - If only the contribution you have to make at work is to
restate what has already been said, you don't have any contribution to make.
9.
Too-Busy-To-Be-Prompt Person - If you are always late to work or every meeting,
there is something wrong with the way you manage your schedule or time. Fix this behavior.
It's rude.
10.
Can't-Control-the-Meeting Person and their arch-nemesis
Wants-To-Take-Over-the-Meeting Person.
11.
Secondary-Conversation People - These folks are only annoying if their
conversation is less interesting than the meeting.
12.
Disagrees-With-Everything Person - This co-worker honestly believes he is just
being practical, or serving as the Voice Of Reason, or playing Devil's Advocate. This may be true
sometimes, and even helpful occasionally, but when it becomes a habit, everyone else just tunes
them out. Don't give up your influence by being this person.
13.
Obscure Metaphor Person - This employee is as annoying as the fool in a troupe of
Morris dancers. (See? Wasn't that annoying?)
Christine Lambden and Casey Connor teach consulting and interviewing skills workshops and seminars around the world. After a combined total of more than 30 years in the consulting industry, they now bring their accumulated wisdom to business professionals in various industries. For complete bios, please visit www.ConsultantingStance.com/about.htm. Everyday Practices of Extraordinary Consultants can be purchased at www.ConsultingStance.com and www.amazon.com.
