How do you deal with the rage that builds up when you work around complete IDIOTS all day?

Question

Not all of my coworkers are idiots, but some of them are completely incompetent at not only simple tasks, but it seems also, life in general.

Answer 1

we should start a fanclub. I work with incompetent, helpless morons all day too. I can't be away for an hour without having 20 new tasks showing up in my inbox, most of which are from people having no clue how to do their job and they need my help. Usually I try to ignore them or let them know in a subtle way that they're getting on my nerves. I also get away for a few minutes at a time for coffee or just step away from my desk for a few minutes for a breather. It helps. Now we just need to find a way to keep the idiots from procreating...

Answer 2

If this question was submitted in all seriousness and you do indeed feel the rage building to intolerable levels, then immediate action is in order.

*Find out today if your company has an internal employee assistance program or contracts with one that is made available to employees. Talking to someone openly and freely about what exactly at work makes you seethe with rage could be tremendously helpful in opening up that valve to let off the steam.

*Recognize that the harsh, angry feelings festering inside you may have colored your perceptions a bit. Things that might normally be considered inconsquential or minor could become very big to you in the context of working with people whom you personally find difficult to tolerate.

*Consider changing jobs. A rather large endeavor, but one that just might do the trick. In this way, you can carefully choose a new place of employment more conducive to your needs instead of gritting your teeth and trying to get through one more day at your existing job without blowing up.


*At the very least, keep in mind that what these people do in their personal lives is just that - personal. If you feel they're complete, bumbling idiots in managing their personal lives, you're entitled to think that, but don't use that to paint them with a broad brush. Their supervisors are tasked with monitoring their performance, and if they fail spectacularly, odds are it will wash out in the end with their termination or voluntary departure from the company. Keep your interactions with those you find personally objectionable to a minimum; only to that extent which your job requires, and keep your conversations business-related. Hopefully that will cut down on the aggravation you may feel, but also keep this in mind:

Spending eight hours a day, five days a week in a place you despise makes for a long, excruciating day and can make you exhausted and miserable outside of work as well. Find a job that fulfills you and you might be able to concentrate on advancement within your career instead of trying to focus on quashing the ever-growing discontent you are probably feeling in this job.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Joe isn't an fool, and he should be worried about making 250k a three hundred and sixty 5 days, as a proper wing device for this very last month or so, he should be about to get the straightforward market fee of atleast 250k for all the right-winging he's been doing... i mean he has been on throughout FOX information like a abducted blond teen!

Answer 4

Such a good question, because a lot of people are faced with this situation and never figure out a good way to deal with it. You have to compartmentalize and separate, and give up control. Here's what I mean. Work time should be work time and shouldn't flow over into your personal life. Try doing a little private ceremony before and after work. I knew a guy that had a big beautiful tree in his yard. Everyday on his way home from work he would grab a branch of that tree and shake it. This was the moment he gave all his work worries to the tree and freed himself from them so he could enjoy his family. Every morning on the way to work, he would reverse the process and take back all the work problems he had to go deal with. Try something like this, it will help you compartmentalize. Separate; co-workers are not friends, not family, basically not important in your life unless you allow them to be. View them as an extension of the work environment and try to keep your relationships with them cordial, but distant. Do not discuss your personal life with them, do not learn about theirs. They will come and go in your life, like any other office furnishing. You are not invested in their success or failure (or idiocy). Give up your feeling that people should perform to any level of competency. Yes, any idiot should be able to learn to tie their shoe, but some of your co-workers probably wear velco. Don't take emotional responsibility for their stupidity. They are stupid, they will make mistakes, they will broadcast their idiocy and spend a lot of time making sure everyone pays attention to it. Define your job and your relationship to the tasks associated with it. Perform them to the very best of your ability, and spend the time you used to spend fuming thinking about how to do your job better, or improve processes in your company.
Please try these. You will still gnash your teeth some days, but those days will be fewer, and you will be happier. Good luck

Answer 5

Listen, it sounds as if you've hit that wall and you are hating your job and/or your job environment. I think if you had to type this question that the honeymoon period is over and you no longer want to be working there. If you feel that you work with idiots and you are at the point where you care how they are handling life in general, or having to hear about it, it's time to start looking for a new job. No one has to go to work and hate being there. Look elsewhere.

Answer 6

not just at work, but everywhere! lol

this is when i wish i could just THINK of where i want to be and be there ... i hate driving. ;)

honestly though, it doesn't seem that there is much you can do but change your outlook. i know i know ... we wish they would change, but they aren't going to ... so if you just change the way you look at them and life, you will probably be at peace more.

i used to get p i s s e d when nasty guys stared at me, which happened all the time ... but now i totally ignore them and if they're staring or whisteling, i'm not even tuned into them and it doesn't bother me because i don't konw it's happeneing. i know you can only do that so much when people are just being dolts, but it's something to work on. just don't let it mull around in your head. it makes it worse to dwell on it ya know?

hope you have a nice day.

ps - yoga and meditation are your friends. ;)

Answer 7

Just keep reminding yourself that you are indeed MORE intelligent than they are and it's a shame that you have to carry the burden of being the smart one!
Don't let them make your IQ go down by listening to their stupidity, just give them that look that says:
'you know you're an idiot! don't make me say it out loud, ok?'
That should calm down that rage a little bit.

Answer 8

Learn to laugh.....don't get upset. I find most people around me very amusing and have discovered that my employer has placed them near me at work for my personal amusement.

You can add to the fun for those inane questions they surely will ask, by having a few choice responses at the ready.

"You're kidding me right? Everybody knows how to do that!"

"This is test, right?"

Have fun! Settle back and enjoy the show.

Answer 9

you must work where i work , i have been at my job 9 years and they just hired these 2 new girls that do nothing but talk and act stupid all day and i feel like i'm doing all the work and it bothers me that no one else see's it ,i get very fustrated and annoyed but i wouldn't give them the satisfaction of quitting i have been there too long i just hope the boss will wake up , but who knows they might be related .but just do your job and dont let them know that they bother you and go home . i know its hard to work like that but keep you head up good luck.

Answer 10

There's no shortage of idiots. They are everywhere so where you are at is no different than anywhere else. Just do your job, do it well, and leave them eating your dust....LOL