Dealing with the many different personalities in the workplace is essential to make communicating and working with people easier. Here are different personalities of people you may have to correspond with in the workplace:

The Constant Complainer

He or she may have once been a model employee, a colleague that has worked for the company for years longer than he or she might have expected. Although after a few confrontations with the boss later, they prefer to be the negative voice at work. This type of person always hears the bad news first and enjoys circulating them to his fellow employees.

To handle a constant complainer is to keep ones opinion in perspective. The issues that they have against the management should not affect your own goals and your relationship with the bosses. Instead of changing their opinions, concentrate on shaping your own. Complainers are sometimes completely justified in their complaints, but still allow room for more objective facts concerning the issue involved.

The Company Gossip

This personality type exists for the controversies and conflicts that may arise in the company. Although seldom a part of the authorized loop, the company gossip will consistently situate themselves to 'accidentally' eavesdrop on private exchanges or intercept restricted memos and telephone calls. The main effect of the company gossip is the loss of trust and misinformation among peers. Some colleagues may find a covert association with the company gossip, hoping to acquire information that will be valuable to them. This is typically an unhealthy alliance, and something you should, by all means, avoid. Deal with the company gossip by not associating with them; courteously but firmly tell them that you are not interested in what they have to share.

Information Hoarder or Miser

This type of person gathers important information and conceals them away for future use. They will hold on to this information until they are contented that their own needs have been met. Dealing with the 'information hoarder' may be very tricky, because in a sense they do possess most of the cards. You need to maintain a normal face when you deal with such people. They can hold out as long as they need to if they do not consider you trustworthy. But if you come across as, say, "Trish, the nice lady who works in accounting", then they might more likely offer you what you need. Appeal to their human side but recognize their power as well.

Braggers or Know-it-alls

You've already done all you know on how to fix a certain circumstance, to no avail. So now you must call in the reinforcements - The know-it-alls. They may be an expert consultant or an experienced repairman, but an absolute failure as a co-worker. This is tough if you want to sustain a pleasant working relationship with this useful and skillful co-worker. Always remember that you won't be able to transform their overconfidence and arrogance overnight but you can try to promote a connection outside the workplace environment. Perhaps you could invite them to an after-work activity and be able to wind down or even invite them to an informal party. Braggers oftentimes use their intellect as a cover against a possible intimacy with their co-workers. It might be that they do not realize that their remarks and sudden dismissals would sound as cruel as they do. You can try to suggest to them privately that they should use more caution when dealing with their colleagues.

Mood-swingers

This type of people has daily temperatures which you should consider before entering into any conversation with. They may be perfectly nice one day, then suddenly unreasonable the next. Supervisory positions who are mood swingers usually create an atmosphere of dread and uncertainty towards their subordinates. You just can't really tell if they will be open to your idea or will shut you out of their office. The most excellent way to deal with this type of superior is striking while the iron is hot. So that the unpleasant days won't influence your own goals greatly, obtain as much task done with them on their pleasant days. Set aside the bad news for their pleasant days, where they would likely deal with it wisely. The flare-ups are hardly personal, it may seem that way but as long as you can detach yourself from the impact of their self-inflicted rage, you can definitely endure the mood swinger unharmed.