How to deal with toxic colleagues at work

The workplace is a tough path to navigate - on one hand, we end up spending 9-10 hours of our life there (not more, we hope), on the other, we might end up working with people we don't even like, for whatever reasons. Unlike our personal life, where we have the luxury of choosing whom we want to spend time with, the workplace includes all sorts of people, some of whom are wired differently from us, leading to conflicts. However, as much as you don't like your toxic colleagues, you don't really have a choice, so here are some tips on how to deal with them...

When it comes to work, set clear boundaries with your colleagues. Demarcate clear deadlines over what needs to be done and when, and make sure your role is clearly marked out when it comes to a certain task or responsibility. Set expectations clearly vis-à-vis your work hours, post work availability, weekends etc, so that no one can take you for a ride.

If working with a colleague whose intentions you are not sure about, document each and everything. This includes important data, emails, delegation of duties etc. If you share the same manager, make sure he/she is in the loop over everything, so that you keep yourself safe, if things go haywire in the future. Do not communicate informally over text or call, put everything in writing.

While you do not have to be rude with anyone at the workplace, you can keep your conversations short, crisp, and to the point. This includes replying only when needed to, and only for important tasks. However, make sure you do not rustle up any feathers - just be mindful that when it comes to work, all lines of communication should be open. However, keep your personal life to yourself.

Even if your colleagues do not like you, they might try to indulge you in office gossip about someone (and vice versa - about you to someone else too). However, stay clear of that trap. Do not indulge in any talks of any kind - the good, bad and ugly. While you might be branded rude if you do so, try doing it in a smart way - feign a work call, or rush saying you have a lot on your plate, to escape from such a gossip session.

Even after these tips, things still go south, and escalate, avoid the temptation of directly confronting that person. Instead, reach out to your manager for support, who in turn can either arrange an intervention, or deal with the matter according to what he/she deems fit. Remember, being unprofessional at work will invariably go against you, even if you are not in the wrong, so it is important to tackle this in the right manner.