14 Red Flags That Show Your Coworkers Aren’t Really Your Allies
One of the best things in the workplace is having supportive colleagues because it makes all the difference and is vital to success at work. But not all co-workers have your best interests in mind, so it’s important to know what can tip you off that the people you work with might not have your back. Here are twelve red flags that will help you recognize if your colleagues aren’t quite as supportive as they first come across, as well as advice on handling these situations.
Meeting Exclusion
Not being invited or included in key meetings or discussions to take part regularly affects your work; it is a sign of a lack of support. You miss out on valuable information or decisions, affecting your ability to contribute; you look uninformed or disconnected. To rectify this, make sure you show interest in participating in these meetings and be more proactive in following up regarding any updates that may have slipped through the cracks.
Information Hold
Another red flag is that your co-workers aren’t being transparent and communicative with you — generally, signs that they’re not rooting for you. If your co-workers withhold information, you may be having a more challenging time doing your job well or meeting expectations. Make it clear that you enjoy open communication, and establish rituals to verify the tips you need to be in the know.
Credit Theft
An obvious sign of a lack of support is having a co-worker take credit for something you helped contribute to or even did it yourself. It robs you of your recognition and can damage your reputation if everyone finds out you aren’t delivering. To mitigate this, document your work and contributions and communicate to your supervisor where you are at with your tasks so you can be duly recognized for your efforts.
Blame Shift
People who are quick to point fingers when things go wrong tell you they don’t care anything about unity or accountability on the team. It is where you make yourself vulnerable to others criticizing you, and that stress makes no sense. However, if this occurs too often, mistakes should be approached objectively, and accountability should be shared to encourage a more equitable and fairer workplace overall.
Help Hesitation
In supportive work environments, one team member helps others when they need a hand or struggle. If your co-workers won’t assist you in your efforts or only contribute minimally to your cause, they may not be engaged in your success. Never hesitate to ask for help directly and find out whether they’re willing or not to help because this will show you their true intentions.
Gossip Spread
Gossip at the workplace is toxic and can only be a result of negativity that exists between co-workers. One of the signs that your co-workers don’t respect or support you is that you find out they are talking about you behind your back. Avoid being part of gossip and focus on developing professional relationships of trust and respect by setting boundaries.
Idea Undermining
If coworkers regularly challenge, dismiss, or undermine your ideas, it might mean that your contributions aren’t valued or that your expertise isn’t trusted. Opposition without constructive feedback, on the other hand, can prevent you from improving and can be a deflating work environment. Approach them and ask for feedback on improving your ideas or constructive input to create a more collaborative relationship with them.
Decision Snub
Being left out when the team makes decisions or plans for other projects can make you feel excluded and undervalued. If you’re always missing out on being asked, it probably means that your coworkers don’t see you as an asset to the team. Let them know that you want to be present in the decision-making processes and brand any insights that show you are committed to the team’s success.
Collaboration Block
Generally, supportive coworkers are willing to collaborate to achieve a common objective. If your colleagues make it difficult for you to work together, either by ignoring your emails, avoiding meetings, or not returning your requests, it’s not a sign of a lack of team spirit. If you want to be more open about wanting to collaborate, or you need more frequent check-ins to maintain a sense of unity.
Authority Disrespect
It’s a big red flag when you have some authority or are in a leadership position, but your coworkers don’t show respect for it. They could behave that way by ignoring your instructions or arguing openly with you over decisions you’ve made. Assert yourself confidently and indicate that mutual respect is necessary to create a healthy work environment.
Achievement Downplay
If your coworkers don’t acknowledge or downplay your accomplishments, it may also be a sign that they resent or see you as a competition. Eroding your confidence level and making you feel undervalued are the results of minimizing your successes. Tell the people who support you to celebrate with you and look for ways to document or report your progress professionally.
Unequal Workload Distribution
You may regard your coworkers highly, but if they constantly dump their workload on you, you might want to reconsider your opinion about them. This behavior clearly indicates that they neither value you nor your time and simply view you as a convenience. Moreover, it shows a lack of team spirit where one person does the majority of the work, and others do the bare minimum.
Lack of Advocacy
Good coworkers stand up for you even if they know they’ll also face the consequences, especially when you are being treated unfairly. But if your coworkers stay silent or don’t advocate for you when you are mistreated, they just don’t prioritize your well-being. Ignore this bunch and befriend people with integrity who don’t mind standing up for what is right.
Feedback Absence
Even if it’s not easy, supportive coworkers are willing to give you feedback that will help you grow. If your colleagues only criticize without providing any solutions or just do not say anything, maybe they aren’t interested in your development. Ask for feedback on your performance, be open about it, and be ready to note down who is keen to see you grow.
Knowing these red flags can help with living in the workplace dynamics and safeguard your professional well-being. If you don’t have coworkers backing you up, focus on your growth, communicate clearly, and set good boundaries. Building strong relationships and finding collaborators helps improve the work environment by ensuring you excel in your role despite your challenges.
More For You
Does it feel like your boss is always watching your every move? Micro-management can make you feel frustrated and doubt yourself at work. It’s important to spot the signs early so you can set limits and feel more in control. Here are some clear signs that your boss might be micro-managing you.
This article was first published at Rbitaliablog.
