Office jerks 101

It's sad how a good education can't vaccinate a person against jerkdom. Office jerks!! Don't we just hate them? Before you answer this, make sure you're not one of them. I say this because a lot of people don't know just how annoying they are. Truthfully though, most people in a work environment are nice and warm, but work stress and deadlines can make even the most bubbly person snap at you if you catch them at a bad time.However, we have the all-round assholes, the jackasses, the schmucks.

So how do we deal with them? The best thing would be not to employ them in the first place, but sometimes, their true colours only come out after they have been hired.

Don't try to change a jerks behaviour, you're not his mother or shrink. I would say ignore them and they'll just go away, but i know better. It may work for a while, but these people are a special breed of pests, they won't stop until they get your attention.

You can't out-jerk a real jerk, so don't try. Be assertive,  not aggressive, when dealing with a jerk. He may have doubts about his abilities and status, so the last thing you want to do is challenge him on those grounds. Keep your cool. Don't give in to him and start yelling back or saying unkind things, because that makes you a jerk too.

You can also try talking to the jerk. As i said earlier, a lot of people don't know they're being difficult. Be sure you're polite and constructive in your speech, being careful not to berate the person.

We're not in high school anymore, where other kids will watch you get pounded by the school bully and do nothing. Stand your ground and refuse to be treated that way. If you've tried avoiding the person or speaking to him about his behaviour and you've still not been able to effect any change, it's time to lodge a formal complaint to your HR Manager immediate boss.

BUT if the jerk happens to be your boss, it's more than likely that your workplace is infested with them. Look for an exit strategy and get out!

By Nanama B. Acheampong - Editor