First of all, understand they’re playing mind games with you. If sign that you’re dealing with a paranoid person is that you get paranoid, sign that you’re dealing with a passive-aggressive person is that you get angry. Not a quick, clean, clear anger, as you would with someone who confronted you directly. It’s a cloudy sort of emotion that starts slowly. Often, in fact, you’ll be curious about person. Why? Because part of being “passive” is being “hidden,” and so your curiosity is peaked, but not for long. Soon you discover how toxic it is to deal with this person.

What sort of jobs do they have? Quite often, frankly, it’s a job that’s rather low on totem pole, but one, nevertheless, that has power. Also they are often entrenched, dug in like a tick. They have been there “forever,” or may have some special ties to boss or manager. They have some sort of protected status, or tenure, which allows them to stay where they are when no one likes them or wants to work with them.

If it’s any consolation, they generally aren’t promoted, being unpromotable, but this only adds to negativity that feeds their passive-aggression.

An example would be Supply Clerk in a law firm. They’re responsible for “special” supplies – such as when a trial notebook is needed – and are often also in charge of assembling it. This puts them in a very powerful position, as they can stall your work just at time it’s needed most. You can really hit a brick wall if your boss is unaware or unconcerned, or if they’re one who keeps P-A person on staff.

Trying to ingratiate yourself to P-A person rarely works. They usually aren’t truly friendly people, so they may let you try, but it doesn’t lead to real cooperation, nor will it solve your problem.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN TRY:

1. Start documentation.

Note that you’ve asked them to do something and then make paper trail. At least in that way, if project fails, your supervisor or boss will see where problem was.

2. Go around them if you possibly can.

Order extra supplies when you don’t need them and stockpile them. Write your own memos. Make phone call yourself. It’s just easier in long run, and will save you a lot of frustration.

3. Confront them with particular behavioral issues.

That is, don’t go into personalities, which is tempting in this case, but state what happened and how you felt about it. When they fail to deliver, state this. “I asked you to XXX and you said you would, and then you didn’t.” Then just let it hang. Sometimes when they’ve been “uncovered,” they’ll respond better to you.

4. Go directly to your supervisor and state problem in behavioral terms.

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What Kind of Equipment Do I Need? A broadband Internet connection is required to make VoIP calls. Some services allow you to use a regular telephone, as long as you connect it to an adaptor. Some companies allow you to make calls from a computer or a VoIP phone that doesn’t require an additional adapter. If you are calling a regular telephone number, person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.

If I have VoIP Service, Whom Can I Call? Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to service, or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, a long distance, or an international number.

What Are Some Advantages of VoIP? Because VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broadband Internet connection, you need not maintain and pay additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.