by Doreen Martel

Created on: April 28, 2010

Working with someone who dislikes you is a real challenge that many people deal with on a regular basis. There may be a basis for the dislike, but more often than not there is no real basis. For some reason, some people have personalities that just do not "click" and this is something that you may not have any control over. If this happens to you, you might be wondering how to work for someone who dislikes you. Here are some ideas:

A) Be respectful - As difficult as it may be, you should do all you can possibly do to treat the person with respect. Regardless of whether you like it or not, this person will be the one who evaluates your performance and if you "rise to the bait" it can affect your reviews. Remember, their perception of how you perform may be based on how you treat them and this can negatively affect your review.

B) Be punctual - This may sound like common sense, but remember if you work with someone who dislikes you they are going to be looking for reasons to lash out at you. Even minor violations like being 5 minutes late for work can be problematic for you.

C) Document - Try to keep all of your communication in written form. Utilize e-mail, inter-office memorandums or other written forms of communication. You will want to be constantly on guard to ensure that there is nothing that can be left to question.

D) Deliver Quality Work - Before you turn in any work when you are working for someone who dislikes you, make sure it is absolutely perfect. Always keep in mind that this type of a boss is going to be gunning for you (as much as you would like to think they will not).

E) Human Resources - If you are very uncomfortable you should consider contacting your human resources department. It may be a feasible option for you to discuss this with them to see if perhaps they can set up a meeting to clear the air.

Summary

Because each workplace has people working that have different personalities, there could be conflicts that can arise for no clear reason. If you are working for someone who dislikes you your workplace could be considered hostile. Take the necessary steps to ensure that you are not a victim, instead, be proactive and take positive steps to resolve the conflict that can arise when you work for someone who dislikes you.

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