I’ve worked in Software Development teams my entire career and I’ve come to realize the spectrum of skill-sets is utterly staggering. Over the years I’ve managed to adapt my in-office behavior to handle utterly incompetent and lazy people.
The way I handle it is to simply cap my anger and frustration, but I find myself going home and venting my anger in the form of complaining to my family and friends, but this is not healthy to me nor my family/friends.
How do I handle personal stress caused by utterly incompetent and lazy co-workers?
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In my younger years, I naively believed incompetent/lazy people didn’t cut it in the software industry for long. I disappointingly found that preferential treatment, nepotism, and just plain self-interest on the part of managers seem to undermine this natural filtering of idiots from the software engineering industry. Thus, it seems I must learn to deal with them.
I have endless patience for people who are junior and ask numerous questions, but I don’t seem to know how to handle stress caused by the utterly incompetent and lazy people that don’t apply themselves.
Dealing with personal stress caused by incompetent and lazy co-workers can be challenging, but there are strategies that can help.
1. Focus on what you can control: Instead of getting frustrated by your co-workers’ behavior, focus on your own work and how you can excel despite their shortcomings.
2. Communicate effectively: If possible, try to address the issue with your co-workers in a professional and constructive manner. Let them know how their behavior is impacting you and see if there is a way to work together more effectively.
3. Set boundaries: Make sure you are not taking on extra work or responsibilities because of your co-workers’ incompetence. Set boundaries and prioritize your own well-being.
4. Take breaks: It’s important to take breaks throughout the day to recharge and destress. Use this time to practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques to help manage your stress levels.
5. Seek support: Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or mentor about your feelings and frustrations. Sometimes just sharing your experiences can help alleviate some of the stress.
Remember, you cannot change other people’s behavior, but you can control how you react to it. Focus on taking care of yourself and finding ways to cope with the stress caused by incompetent co-workers.