Do you find yourself being passive-aggressive without realizing it? Here are seven signs that can help you identify this behavior, including subtle comments and avoidance tactics.

Recognizing your inner “Mean Girl” at work can be tough. This behavior can hinder your professional growth.

We’ve all experienced passive-aggressive actions at work—like that colleague who “forgets” to share essential files or continually leaves you off meeting invites. While spotting it in others is straightforward, recognizing it in ourselves can be challenging.

Let’s get to the point: Here are seven telltale signs of passive-aggressive behavior and tips on how to correct it.

You Pose Threatening Questions

Sometimes, a passive-aggressive remark can come across as an accusatory challenge, according to cognitive behavioral therapist Alex Hedger. Questions like, “Why would you think that?” or “Are you out of your mind?” fall into this category (unless the statement is truly bizarre, of course).

These types of inquiries put the other person on edge, making it unlikely you'll receive a meaningful answer and risking your professional relationships.

Building strong workplace connections is vital. You never know when you might need a teammate to assist with a printer malfunction before a major presentation.

You Make Jealous Remarks

Another form of passive aggression occurs when you desire something but don’t ask for it directly.

This behavior can manifest through subtle digs and backhanded compliments, notes clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula. For instance, if a colleague wears stunning new shoes, you might remark, “I wish I could afford those, but all my shoe money goes to bills.”

These comments can evoke guilt in others for their successes and may prevent them from sharing positive news with you. Want to know if other departments received salary increases while yours did not? Building friendships across the office can offer insights and opportunities.

You Offer Insincere Compliments

Jealousy often pairs with passive-aggressive behaviors. Instead of expressing genuine happiness, you might make comments that come off as rude.

For example, if a coworker gets engaged and you’ve been waiting for your partner to propose, you might refer to her ring as “cute” or imply it should be larger.

Avoid this tendency: embodying negativity at work is unproductive. If you catch yourself saying something hurtful, take a moment to apologize. Acknowledging your mistake can help mend any damage.

You Remain Silent

Sometimes, saying nothing can convey passive-aggressive sentiments. Psychotherapist Katherine Crowley, author of “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me,” points out that checking your phone while a coworker is speaking is one example.

Does this sound familiar? Break this habit by leaving your phone behind in meetings or putting it away when someone approaches.

Ignoring calls, emails, or messages to signal your displeasure is another manifestation of this behavior.

You Delay Tasks

Procrastination is a more overt form of avoidance. If you’re unhappy with your job or role in a project, instead of voicing your concerns, you might take extended breaks or even call in sick as deadlines loom.

Socially, this behavior often appears when someone cancels plans at the last minute, using excuses to hide their true feelings, says friendship expert Nicole Zangara.

You Exclude Others

If you dislike a colleague, rather than confronting the issue, you may intentionally exclude her from group activities. For instance, inviting everyone on your team to lunch except her, as noted by Crowley.

This behavior is usually noticed by the excluded person. Make an effort to include her; you might discover common interests. Even if not, you can rest easy knowing you chose kindness over animosity.

You Undermine Someone

A more extreme form of exclusion is actively sabotaging a colleague. Instead of merely leaving someone out socially, you might exclude her from important email threads or forget to inform her about a deadline change.

If confronted, you might say, “I had no idea,” or “Oops, sorry!” to deflect blame, as explained by clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis.

These feelings might stem from jealousy or insecurity about your own accomplishments. Try to be aware of these emotions and address them constructively.