5 Times Youre the Annoying Co-worker - The Muse

5 Times Youre the Annoying Co-worker - The Muse5 Times Youre the Annoying Co-workerEven if youre the most tolerant person on the face of the planet, chances are youre familiar with those co-workers who are so obnoxious they make you close your eyes, clench your fists, and grit your teeth. The sales guy who clips his fingernails at his desk. The marketing staff member who insists on using her speakerphone for every single phone call. The desk mate who delights in heating up his tuna melt in the microwave- every single day.Are you cringing yet? Yes, those annoying colleagues are definitely enough to test your patience. But, have you ever stopped to think if youre doing anything to drive your co-workers up a wall- particularly when it comes to the way that you communicate in the geschftszimmer?Nobodys perfect, and you very well might just be guilty of a few of these common faux pas. Here are five times you sound obnoxious at work- without even realizing it. 1. When You InterruptWhen peo ple speak, they undoubtedly want to be listened to. So, if youre one of those people who has the tendency to constantly jump in and cut people off mid-sentence, youre probably driving your co-workers nuts.While you might think that your incessant interruptions (and your unnecessary tendency to complete other peoples sentences for them) might be an effective way to demonstrate your level of engagement in the conversation, they really only make your colleagues feel steamrolled and unheard. So, resist the temptation, zip your lips, and wait for your turn to talk 2. When You Constantly Put Yourself DownI get it- you dont want to seem conceited, braggy, or like youre showboating and strutting your stuff all around the office every time you make even the smallest accomplishment. But, constantly tearing yourself down with self-deprecating comments? Well, thats almost just as annoying.Maybe your idea is completely half-baked- that doesnt mean you need to prequalify it by describing yourself as stupid and unprepared. Its draining, and also makes your teammates feel like youre constantly fishing for compliments and confidence boosts. If you want everyone else to think of you as a qualified and intelligent employee who deserves to be part of the team, you need to start thinking of yourself that way. 3. When You Keep Chiming InBeing helpful is a valuable quality in the office. But, if youre one of those people whos constantly putting in his or her two cents completely unprompted, youre likely just coming off as nosy, pushy, and overbearing.Of course, if you have a constructive suggestion that could make someones job easier or project that much better, go ahead and share it. However, its important that you remember your limits here. After all, nobody likes the co-worker whos constantly trying to tell other people how they should get their work done- particularly if it doesnt even involve you in the slightest. 4. When You Always ComplainThe weather is terrible. Your desk ch air is uncomfortable. Your eyes hurt from staring at your computer screen all day. Your inbox is too full. The office is too hot. The office is too cold. Youre basically your workplaces resident Goldilocks, and you exude negativity.We all voice complaints every now and then- its human nature. But, if you find yourself constantly airing your grievances about every little thing, its probably time that you flip the switch and attempt to be more positive.Sometimes, commiserating over shared annoyances can be a great way to bond with your co-workers. However, as with anything, theres a line here. One complaint every now and then is expected. But, an endless string of them? Well, thats just irritating. 5. When Youre Overly ComplimentarySo, youre making an effort to be a positive, upbeat, supportive, and encouraging employee. When one of your teammates wraps up a huge project, you rant and rave about how wonderful it is for hours. When a colleague presents an idea in a meeting, you attempt to stir up a round of applause fit for Carnegie Hall. It seems counterintuitive that theres such a thing as being too nice- but, surprisingly, there is. When you head way too far in this direction, youre sure to make your co-workers feel uncomfortable and uneasy.Trust me- nobody in the office wants to be treated like a child receiving a gold star on his chore chart. So, remember, one genuine compliment or a sincere thank you is really all it takes to get your point across. Weve all had our fair share of run-ins with irritating co-workers. But, its all too easy to forget that we could actually be the ones causing our colleagues to cringe- without even realizing it.So, be conscious of these five times that you sound obnoxious at work and make your best effort to stay far away from them. Youll go from being the employee that everybody tries to avoid to the one that everybody wants to be around