How to Deal With an Instigator Coworker
A company was doing a good thing
One of our clients used to host an annual company family picnic. It was a fun event – held on a Saturday with entertainment and food fo all. The company had been doing this for over a decade, as a way of saying thank you for being part of its success.
Then the instigator showed up
A couple of years ago, one of the employees began circulating a petition saying that, because it was a corporate event, people should be paid for the time spent at it – even though it wasn’t mandatory to attend. Very few people agreed with, or signed, the petition, but the employee relentlessly kept bringing the issue (or non-issue) up. Needless to say, he single-handedly put a damper on an otherwise positive initiative.
After the event, the company sent all employees a thank-you note for attending. To the disappointment of all, however, it was accompanied by the news that this would be the last of the company picnics.
One manager told me that this same employee had done similar things before, and that “everyone is getting annoyed, and concerned that management is painting us all with the same brush.”
Instigators live for drama...
Instigators are people who just aren’t happy unless there’s some sort of drama in the workplace. They have no concept of internal customer service, and unlike your average pot-stirrers – instigators are also action-takers. They have a compulsion to try and get everyone else involved in their crusades.
...But it's counterproductive
While the drive and perseverance of instigators are admirable, their obsessions can often be counterproductive to the company and their coworkers. One thing you can count on is that just ignoring them won’t create positive outcomes.
If you have instigators who are forcing their own agendas in your workplace, here are some important tips:
Two things you can do
1. Let your boss know your position
If you don’t agree with the instigators’ issues, or the way they are going about it, make sure your boss understands this. This also ensures that you don’t get painted with the same brush.
2. Tell the instigator your position
If you don’t agree with the things instigators are doing, tell them. They will be much less aggressive when they know they don’t have complete support of their colleagues. You don’t have to be nasty about it – just make your feelings clear.
In many ways, as a coworker, you actually have more influence over instigators’ actions than if you were a manager. You can say some things a boss can’t (or shouldn’t) say. You also often have a better feel for how this person’s actions are effecting others in the team. Don’t be confrontational – but also don’t be afraid to stand up for your team.
