Have you ever had to live with a colleague who seemed to want to control everything and everyone? These “vigilantes” can cause anxiety and discomfort in the workplace.
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Katy DeCelles, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of Toronto, Canada, is an expert on conflict, emotions, morality and aggression. In 2017, she coauthored the article Vigilantes at Work: Analyzing the Frequency of Black Knight Employees.
For DeCelles, vigilantes tend to think of themselves as more moral than the average person. While many share this view, this trait is even more pronounced and rigid in vigilantes in the workplace.
Even if they are not your boss, they act as if they are. These people have a genuine desire to have some kind of control or authority over others, which can make for an uncomfortable work environment for many.
However, the expert points out that there are strategies for dealing with personalities like “Dwight from the Office” and minimizing the stress and discomfort they can cause.
Cover your bases to protect yourself from “workplace vigilantes.”
It is important that you are clear with the person in authority over you about any situation that could be misconstrued or used against you.
For example, if you are regularly unable to attend certain meetings, clarify the reasons with your manager and make sure it is okay.
If the vigilante colleague raises the matter, his superior is already informed and can intervene.
Talk directly to the uncomfortable colleague
At times, the vigilante in the workplace may not be aware of how often he constantly comments on his work. In these cases, a brief, informal explanation is fine.
For example, if you complete a task in a way that your coworkers think is wrong, you can simply thank them for their help but let them know that your manager approves of what you’re doing. By doing so, you strengthen your autonomy and authority over your own responsibilities.
Talk to other colleagues about this topic
If the vigilant behavior of peers persists, it is likely that other peers have noticed it as well. Talk to them to find out if they are having the same experiences.
Knowing that you are not alone in this situation can strengthen your arguments when contacting HR. If you present a pattern of behavior instead of a simple interpersonal argument, your argument will be more valid.
The “Dwight” of the workplace
Keep in mind that over time people tend to give the impression that the vigilante’s authoritarian personality has more to do with himself than with others. Affection and sympathy are hardly won by this behavior.
So don’t let it affect your confidence and keep focusing on your work. Eventually people will realize who the real “Dwight” is and his claims will be ignored.