Most Annoying Ways Co-workers Waste Your Time | Fusion - WeRIndia

Co-workers can be awesome. But, they can also be major time sucks.

If we were able to work completely alone that doesn’t mean to ignore your colleagues.

In your work experience you will meet with many kind of people, might be possible with some annoying type.

I hope you will not but that’s important to keep some things in your mind how to handle those people and don’t let them waste your time.

Here you will know about the most annoying ways co-workers waste your time and how to put an end to it:

Sending You Endless Emails

Your inbox often makes you feel like you’re stuck in the Twilight Zone—you can’t look away for more than ten seconds without a new message arriving.

Sure, a few of them are important. But, the rest of them? They’re totally unnecessary notes from your colleagues discussing the project you’re all working on. Your team members continue to send short, one-line responses back and forth, even though it’d be so much easier and more efficient for them to talk things through via instant message or—gasp!—in person. But, nope. You’re stuck dealing with this.

It’s time to train your co-workers to send you less email. No, this doesn’t involve bribing them with treats. If you’re stuck in that never-ending chain, gently suggest that they take that conversation elsewhere. And, moving forward, respond with definitive statements—rather than more questions—so that you can keep the conversations as concise as possible.

Asking You Questions That’ve Already Been Answered

Do we have this holiday off? Is this week payday, or is it next week? How many sick days do we get? Am I allowed to use the color printer for personal use?

We’ve all had those co-workers who seem to treat us like we’re quite literally the employee handbook. While you’re flattered to be thought of as the all-knowing expert on anything and everything company-related, the fact that you need to repeatedly answer questions that have already been addressed elsewhere can quickly become frustrating—not to mention, it eats up major chunks of your time.

Throw the employee handbook at him. Just kidding, don’t do that – which I certainly hope they’re not. Instead, the next time your colleague approaches you with a question that’s already been answered, kindly refer him to where he can find that for himself. Hopefully before too long, he’ll get the hint.

Inviting You to Unnecessary Meetings

When your colleague sent you a calendar invite for an upcoming meeting, you simply assumed it was relevant and important. So when that set time rolls around, you head into the conference room and take a seat.

The conversation gets rolling, and suddenly feel like you did when you somehow stumbled into the wrong classroom on the first day of school. You have no idea what is being discussed. Wait, who even are these people?

It quickly dawns on you that this is a meeting you definitely don’t need to be at. But, for some reason, your colleague was passing out invites like Valentine’s Day cards in elementary school—everybody gets one! Lucky you.

Like it or not, your co-workers will likely continue to invite you to things you don’t really need to be at unless you speak up. Hey, at least you’re apparently enjoyable to be around? So, knowing that, it’s up to you to be proactive in determining whether or not you really need to be there.

Do so by asking yourself and your colleagues a few key questions, such as, “Is there an agenda?” and “Am I prepared to contribute to this discussion in a meaningful way?”

Failing to Adequately Prepare

You and your colleague have a meeting planned so that you can talk over the project you’re working on together. When you sit down and whip out your well-prepared notes, you soon realize that she’s done absolutely nothing to get ready for this conversation—except, apparently, go through the Starbucks drive-through.

You’re left doing most of the talking (ahem, work), while she gives you blank stares, nods along, and sucks down her iced chai latte.

Think there’s no polite way to tell someone that she’s a colossal waste of your time? Think again. As Muse writer, Rich Moy, explains in his piece on what to say when a co-worker is wasting your time, you just need to flip the script and use “you” language—rather than pointing fingers.

Take a cue from his story and try saying something like, “I’m excited that we’re working on this together. But, maybe we should regroup after we both have had some time to adequately prepare.”

Photo by Thijs Slootjes on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Image Reference: https://unsplash.com/photos/EcWtkA_Anhs