Dear ToughTalk,
I work with a guy who is always talking trash about our coworkers. Up front, he’s a nice guy to their face, but then as soon as he or she leaves, he mocks them out twenty ways to Sunday. Sometimes he’s funny, but most of the time he’s just plain mean and nasty. It gets tired real fast. And I know he does it to me as well. I can just tell. What should I do TT? (Cincinnati, PA)
The best way to handle this is to do straight for the throat. The next time you’re talking to someone, bring up the what he said about them. “You seem so nice now, but last time you said . . .“ It may be embarrassing at first but you will see the results. Also, you should repeat everything he’s said about those people to those people. I promise you, things will change. Just don’t be a cowardly little woose because he probably thinks you’re with him on it. Why else would he talk to you?
Tough Talk 