How to deal with grouchy officemates?

Answer:

My favorite way is to treat them as if they were my best friends--be sincerely, not cynically, kind and attentive to them. Even when they are being grumpy, respond as if they were being as sweet as peaches. Every time I have set out to deliberately show warmth and pleasantness to someone, they have responded favorably.

And guess what! Some of them have become friends. One of the warmest good-bye hugs I ever got from a departing coworker came from someone who'd been a champion sourpuss. I made it my business to try to brighten this person's day just by treating him with extra care consistently, day after day, and he turned around completely.

First answer by SapphireMoon. Last edit by SapphireMoon. Contributor trust: 905 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 12 [recommend question].