Passive-Aggressive Phrases That Will Motivate Your Coworkers to Take Action
We’ve all had at least one colleague with whom we had a difficult time, be it a personal conflict or a case of chronic missed deadlines. The next time you feel frustrated with this person in the office, can we suggest some old-fashioned passive aggression?
At Lifehacker Now wicked week , which means that we are studying is not quite decent methods to deal with the shit. We like to think we’re shedding light on these tactics as a way to help you do the opposite, but if you’re really mean, this week might not be of any use to you. You decide.
Of course, some of you may not consider these phrases passive-aggressive, and perhaps you are right. You can also see them as ways to set boundaries with coworkers, or as ways to tone down what you really want to say (profanity is generally not seen as professional …). Either way, try using one of these phrases to make yourself feel a little better, and maybe even get your coworker to actually do his job right:
- “As we agreed earlier …” : When your colleague forgets details or next steps on which you have reached consensus.
- “Follow-up to see if we are still on track for implementation…” : if you are nearing a deadline and have not heard any news from your colleague.
- “I’ll post it again, in case my last letter ends up in your inbox. I need an answer … ” : a stronger push to get an answer from someone who did not answer you.
- “Do you have an agenda for this meeting?” : When someone invites you to a meeting, you are not sure if it should happen.
- “Looking ahead, I would prefer you to …” : redirecting a coworker’s behavior to something that works better or follows a set process.
- “In the future, you may find this information here: …” : when a colleague asks you a question, he can easily answer himself by performing a quick search in internal documents or materials.
Do you have a favorite passive-aggressive phrase that you use with colleagues? Share this in the discussion below.