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Pick Your Battles

Sometimes I receive letters that I dub the “Kitchen Sink Chronicles.” The list of complaints about a problem coworker spans so many areas that it’s hard to know where to begin. The litany reflects employees who are battling on too many fronts.

Troublemakers always give you plenty to complain about. But if you complain about every infraction, you turn into a whiner, another category of problematic employees.

Choose your battles. Otherwise your constant complaining will drive away the colleagues whose support you need.

If you find your colleagues changing the subject quickly when you talk about your office problems, that’s your cue to cut back. Choose well your battles as well as your moments to talk about them.