How to Deal with Backstabbing Colleagues

There will always be that guy in the office who will do anything to get ahead -- including backstabbing his coworkers. He trashes your work to your boss and friends, he spreads rumors about you and your family and he never misses an opportunity to show you up. The problem with backstabbing colleagues is that they rarely instigate conversation and always do their dirty work behind your back. Here are a few ways to deal.

Deal with Backstabbing Colleagues: Verify Your Information

If you know that you have a colleague who's talking about you behind your back, then you've probably heard it from someone else. Rather than flying off the handle as soon as you receive this information, try to verify it through other people. You don't want to go to your boss or initiate a private conversation until you're at least mostly sure that you've not been misled.

If you go about it another way and immediately confront your backstabbing colleague, you could discover that you received false information and thereafter earn such a title yourself.

Deal with Backstabbing Colleagues: Avoid Giving Ammunition

In order for your colleague's efforts to work, he must be given credible ammunition with which to work. If you are always going on about your personal life and other issues, then you're virtually handing him his material on a silver platter. Instead, avoid talking about your personal life or your work woes or anything else that could be used against you. Given a lack of material, he will have to resort to making things up entirely, which will diminish his credibility.

Deal with Backstabbing Colleagues: Pay Attention

If you don't know what's being said about you, there isn't much you can do to stop the harassment. To that end, you should make sure to pay attention to what's being said around the office, including what you might hear about other coworkers. Don't participate in the gossip mill, but you also shouldn't miss a chance to sit in on a conversation in the break room or at lunch. Once you know the rumors, you can make a plan to dispel them.

Deal with Backstabbing Colleagues: Address the Backstabber Personally

Take the colleague with whom you've been having a problem aside and ask him point-blank what his problem is. Say something along the lines of, "I understand you have a problem with me, and I'd like to go ahead and clear the air." This might work -- but it might not. He will probably deny having said anything at all, but you should make it clear that you're on to his game. This might prevent him from trying to spread rumors in the future.

Deal with Backstabbing Colleagues: Meet with the Boss

If the one-on-one meeting didn't work, you might have to set up a meeting with your boss and the backstabber. Insist that he make his accusations in front of you so that you can talk about them. Make sure to bring any proof you might have that the allegations are false. Your boss will be impressed that you are willing to deal with the situation head-on and it might save your job -- and your reputation.