7 Ways to Handle a Crush on a Co-worker ...

Lyndsie

7 Ways to Handle a Crush on a Co-worker ...
7 Ways to Handle a Crush on a Co-worker ...

Crushes happen all over the place – and they can even happen in the office. This can be tricky, however, since a lot of workplaces frown on office romances. Crushes on a colleague have the potential to get messy as well, for a variety of reasons. There are so many things to consider, but here are some techniques that can help you handle a crush on a co-worker.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

1

Stay Professional

Above all else, you have to stay professional in the workplace. If you start behaving in an unprofessional way, then things can get very bad very quickly. By acting professional, however, you can keep things in perspective … and make sure that you keep your job. This is especially important if you don't want your crush to know about your feelings.

***

Maintaining a professional demeanor means keeping your interactions courteous and respect focused. It's easy to let emotions steer your behavior, but remember: your workplace isn't the setting for personal drama. Keeping a level head and managing your responsibilities with excellence not only reflects well on you but also sets a clear boundary. Even in casual office environments, it's critical to differentiate between friendly banter and crossing the line into inappropriate territory. Always communicate clearly without letting your emotions cloud your judgement or actions.

2

Don't Let Him/Her Walk All over You

Some people are more than willing to take advantage of your crush feelings. And it is human nature to sort of dote on people you like and care about, so you might be tempted to buy your crush lunch or coffee, pick up his or her dry cleaning, and so on. Furthermore, your crush might be perfectly willing to reap the benefits of that, even if he or she doesn't necessarily feel the same way. That's never awesome.

***

Remember, maintaining a sense of self-respect is key. It's one thing to be kind, but it's quite another to be a doormat. If you find yourself overextending without any reciprocity, it's time to pull back. Set boundaries and ensure they are clear. You can still be helpful or friendly, but ensure there is a balance and that your actions aren't solely driven by your feelings. This will protect your own well-being and could also prevent any potential resentment from building up over time. Remember, a relationship, of any kind, is a two-way street.

Frequently asked questions

3

Look the Right Way

What this means is, you should try to avoid staring dreamily at your crush while you're at work. Moony stares can reveal your feelings quicker than almost anything else. Besides, it's unprofessional to stare like that – and it could lead to trouble.

***

In the workplace, maintaining a professional demeanor is critical, and failing to do so could not only out you but tarnish your reputation amongst colleagues. Instead of ogling, focus on your tasks and interact with your crush like you would with any other co-worker—politely and respectfully. If you find yourself getting lost in their eyes, gently remind yourself to stay grounded. A simple trick is to establish a mental check each time you catch yourself staring: pivot your attention to a work-related thought or duty. This can help keep both your feelings and your professionalism in check.

4

Keep up with Reality

When you have a crush on someone, it's not at all uncommon to start fantasizing or even dreaming about that person. It's also not uncommon to start confusing those fantasies with reality, especially when you work with your crush – after all, you spend so much time together. It's important to keep your feet firmly rooted in reality, though; keep your fantasy life completely separate from your professional life.

***

Remember that the workplace is for professional achievements and collaborations, not personal escapades. It's exhilarating to imagine a romantic scenario with your office crush, but don't let those daydreams color your interactions or decision-making at work. You must maintain professionalism and not act on impulse. Set boundaries for yourself and stick to them, even when it's challenging. Imagine the complications that might arise from blurring the lines—not only could it impact your career trajectory, but it could also affect your reputation and that of your crush. Keep personal feelings discreet to uphold both your integrity and the office environment.

5

Be Realistic

To that end, you also need to be realistic. How does your company feel about office romances? Does your crush give any inkling about feeling the same way? Do you really think a relationship could happen? Don't let your feelings get in the way of your common sense. Stay level headed and make sure that you keep things in a realistic perspective.

***

Understanding the workplace policy regarding romantic relationships is essential. Some organizations have strict rules, while others may be more lenient. Look for signs from your crush that they may also be interested, such as extended eye contact or a willingness to spend time together outside of work-related activities. Approach the situation with a clear mind, recognizing that a workplace romance may complicate professional dynamics. Assess both your feelings and the potential consequences with a pragmatic outlook to avoid unnecessary complications in your career and personal life.

Related Videos about

6

Keep Cool

You need to act as cool, calm, and collected as possible. Don't get gushy or giggly, don't let your crush affect you like that. If need be, pretend like your crush isn't there at all, especially if that's what you have to do to keep things on a professional level.

7

Weigh the Consequences

If you really think you want a relationship with your crush, you need to start thinking about the consequences. Will it put your job in jeopardy? What happens if you break up? You need to think about what working conditions would be like both during and after a potential relationship. If the cons outweigh the pros, then again, keep your fantasy life completely separate from your working life.

Sometimes office romances do work out, but when they don't, it can get awkward even when you don't want it to. Things like that just happen, and it's rarely like what you see in the movies. Have you ever acted on a colleague crush before?

Top Photo Credit: Corporación DOMOS

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

I have a coworker who proposed me so many times even after rejection. Now he understood the fact that there is no hope for him..but started acting mean. Never leaves a chance to harass me...any help?

I also have a crush on a coworker. Granted I work in a bar when I am not going to school so its a little different than this, but I can see where most of the rules still apply.

I have a co-worker who used to be my boss but we both transferred out of that dept. We work for the same co but different roles. We hit it off right away at the beginning. Joking, emailing, etc. We would even go have drinks just one on one in situations where it would be normal to invite others. For some reason it was always just us. I didn't even realize the crush at first but now I think I've had it for at least 2-3 years. The kicker is he is married and so am I. I'm leaving my situation and I've heard things are bad for him with his marriage. I am totally confused. Some parts of me think, this is ridiculous to think on this for years. Then other times, why do I? I'm not thinking about it all the time and my priorities come first-- but this lingers in the back of my mind. why? Am I just lonely? totally confused. A

Wow, I had an office mate with a crush on me, he buys me coffee and sandwiches without me asking

I went out with one guy at work for a couple times when I was getting into him and told him He told me just be "super friends" However that happens 6 months ago I was getting over and thought He was history, well past Monday he invited me to a movie after work, nothing happens but somehow the feelings for him started again. I know He won´t ask me again I am soo crash for him. He is not handsome and not my kind but can´t help it The way how he acts, and his personality. I am not sure what will happen I just renewed my contract with this company for another year so...Some of his old friends told me He is very shy but I think over a year we meet It's pretty well a long time to no confess your feeling to someone, maybe he just want to be friends what do you think? Plus He uses to send me text messages everyother night to say hi but always casual.

I have this male colleague which I've been working for some time. I've had this crush on him ever since he joined. Recently I noticed that he's often smiling at me (which he does to all-as he's quite a polite guy), touched me a few times & looks at my lips whenever we're talking, in fact he even did that today which was quite obvious! I'm unsure whether he likes me or it's just my mind playing games with me? He's 4 years older than me, he's in a top management while I'm in middle management, both of us are of different race/religion and none of us at work knows much about his personal life. I've never did anything significant to show him that I've this crush on him, except jokingly asked when his turn to get married once, when he mentioned his friend who got married recently which he in return responded quite aggressively. Another thing that I did was ask his birthday randomly over lunch one day while we're with other colleagues which he again answered rather reluctant and strict way. After this 2 incident, I've never asked him anything about his personal life and all I speak with him is just work related or some random jokes. So far, i've never attempted to ask him out/say anything to him because i don;t how he's reaction would be?

Related Topics

how to make him notice you it s just a little crush things to draw your boyfriend how should a girl make the first move to kiss safety tips for first date how to make a guy hard through text bite me meaning should i go on a date with him get him to notice you have fun with him

Popular Now