5 ways to handle a chameleonic colleague

You know that colleague: the one who acts a certain way when your boss is in the room but sings a completely different tune when you’re alone. This can be especially frustrating when your boss is blind to this chameleon-like behavior and gives your colleague praise or even promotions.

Here are some steps you can take to better manage your reaction and the person.

1. RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU: Don’t take it personally. This behavior is usually due to a lack of awareness.

2. DON’T PLAY THE GAME BACK: No matter what you do, don’t fight fire with fire. All that does is make you look bad, too.

3. KEEP IT CONSTRUCTIVE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE: Is your colleague’s behavior affecting you or your team’s ability to get the job done? If it’s the latter, approach it as constructively as possible, and give your colleague the benefit of the doubt.

4. CAREFULLY ESCALATE TO THE BOSS, IF NECESSARY: If the behavior is still affecting your work, proceed with caution when bringing it to the boss. Be explicit about your intentions, ask questions and seek to clarify. Maintain a calm and neutral tone.

5. LEARN FROM YOUR COLLEAGUE AND MAKE IT YOUR OWN: Rather than painting all of the person’s behavior as negative, think about the admirable skills he’s demonstrating and ask yourself if you can emulate them — without the inconsistency.