ALT-2 How to Cope with an Incompetent Colleague
Sometimes it seems like incompetence rises to the top. The day to day stress of dealing with an incompetent colleague can cause a loss of productivity and morale. However, learning how to cope with an incompetent colleague takes problem solving skills that are easy for most people to develop on their own.Evaluate the issueOne of the first things that should be done is an honest evaluation of the issue. If incompetence is the result of a colleague being in a position they are not qualified for then this is one issue, if the incompetence is because a colleague does not want to do their job, this is a completely different issue.When incompetence is due to not caringIf an incompetent colleague merely does not care about their job, there is really no way to successfully cope with this issue. The best course of action is to approach a manager or supervisor and report the problem. However, there are some things that must be done in advance including:Document the behavior - if an incompetent colleague is constantly passing work off to others because they lack any interest in their job, it must be documented;Tracking the behavior - before jumping to conclusions, make sure the behavior is regular and not the result of issues at home, financial problems or health issues. It would be challenging to discover later that the problem was limited;Talk to other co-workers - it is easy to develop negative feelings about a colleague without any particular intent. Make sure the behavior is noticeable to others.Once these steps have been taken, then feel free to discuss the problem, confidentially, with a superior in the company. In some cases this may involve a supervisor, a manager or a representative from human resources.When incompetence is due to a lack of trainingOne of the biggest challenges to overcome in the workplace is a colleague who does not understand their role. This may initially appear that they lack competence when in reality, they are not sure what they should be doing. In these cases, it pays to be patient and helpful where possible.One way to cope with an incompetent colleague who is uncertain of their role is to offer them assistance. Help them by offering information about company policies and procedures and if possible, information about the last person who filled their role. This does not mean that you should undertake tasks they should be responsible for, it merely means that you can help them through a challenging stage.Do not cover for them in any circumstances because in the end, no one looks good. Avoid doing things that are the colleague’s responsibility because you are familiar with the tasks. If something goes right, they will likely get (or take) credit and if something goes wrong, it is unlikely the fault will be accepted as theirs.Incompetence may seem to be prevalent in certain company environments. Occasionally, this is due to people not being on-boarded for a position well or it may be because they lack any interest in their position. Once a determination is made as to which category anincompetent colleaguefalls into, it may be easier to determine how to cope with them.Image credit:Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
