Do you work with a weirdo? How to handle that...

You can choose your friends – but not your family or your coworkers...

According to the American Psychiatric Association, 5 to 10% of people in the workplace suffer from personality disorders. Here are a few of the common office oddballs and how to deal with them:

• The Loner: Sticks to his own cubicle, prefers email over face-to-face communication and projects over people. You can’t force a loner out of his shell – but you can crack it a bit by taking a less personal approach.

• The Mouse: Goes out of her way to help you, needs constant praise and cries at criticism. Tough love is the best approach. Don’t baby the mouse. Unlike some other types, this employee may have potential to change.

• The Nitpicker: Preoccupied with detail, never satisfied and rarely completes a project on time. Don’t let the nitpicker get under your skin. Stay the course or their perceived workload will burden the team or department. 

• The Stud: Preoccupied with personal success, disrespectful, dismissive and bosses others around. If this is your boss, follow orders but stand your ground. The Pushover IS repeatedly trampled by the Stud - or Studette.