YOU WANT ME TO WORK WITH WHO????? A GUIDE TO WORKING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE

WHO ARE DIFFICULT PEOPLE? EVERYONE HAS A BAD DAY ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE “BAD” DAYS EVERY DAY, WE HAVE A “POLITE” NAME –DIFFICULT! EVERYONE HAS A BAD DAY ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE “BAD” DAYS EVERY DAY, WE HAVE A “POLITE” NAME –DIFFICULT! MOSTLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO AVOID DIFFICULT PEOPLE, BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. MOSTLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO AVOID DIFFICULT PEOPLE, BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

“I WOULD REALLY LIKE MY JOB IF” MOST OF US WOULD LOVE OUR JOBS IF WE DID NOT HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHERS. MOST OF US WOULD LOVE OUR JOBS IF WE DID NOT HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHERS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CAUSES OF STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE IS THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE, AT ALL LEVELS, TO GET ALONG WITH ONE ANOTHER. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CAUSES OF STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE IS THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE, AT ALL LEVELS, TO GET ALONG WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO WORK WITH OTHERS? REASON #1 – PEOPLE ARE DIFFICULT REASON #1 – PEOPLE ARE DIFFICULT DIFFICULT PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE AND EACH ONE EXHIBITS A DIFFERENT BRAND OF BAD BEHAVIOR.

WHAT IS BAD BEHAVIOR? BAD BEHAVIOR IS SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING THAT IRRITATES YOU. BAD BEHAVIOR IS SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING THAT IRRITATES YOU. BAD BEHAVIOR IS SOMEONE DOING SOME ACTION YOU DID NOT WANT THEM TO DO. BAD BEHAVIOR IS SOMEONE DOING SOME ACTION YOU DID NOT WANT THEM TO DO.

THE ARMY OF ONE THE ARMY OF ONE YOU ARE ALWAYS IN CHARGE OF YOU YOU ARE ALWAYS IN CHARGE OF YOU YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CONTROL YOUR RESPONSE TO DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN THE WORK PLACE. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CONTROL YOUR RESPONSE TO DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN THE WORK PLACE. SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THING WE DO IS ADMIT WE MIGHT BE DIFFICULT, TOO! SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THING WE DO IS ADMIT WE MIGHT BE DIFFICULT, TOO!

WORK WORK WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO FOR SOMEONE YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO ANYTHING FOR, BEFORE YOU ARE READY TO DO ANYTHING – THAT IS CALLED WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO FOR SOMEONE YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO ANYTHING FOR, BEFORE YOU ARE READY TO DO ANYTHING – THAT IS CALLED “WORK” “WORK”

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF WHAT IF YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO IRRITATE YOU BY ACTION OR WORD IF YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO IRRITATE YOU BY ACTION OR WORD IF YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO FOR SOMEONE YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO ANYTHING FOR BEFORE YOU ARE READY (WORK) IF YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO FOR SOMEONE YOU HAD RATHER NOT DO ANYTHING FOR BEFORE YOU ARE READY (WORK) WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING?

REASON #2 REASON #2 WORK IS STRESSFUL WORK IS STRESSFUL CONSTANT CHANGE CONSTANT CHANGE COMPETITION COMPETITION UNREALAISTIC EXPECTATIONS UNREALAISTIC EXPECTATIONS THE ENDLESS PRESSURE TO COMMUNICATE INSTANTLY THE ENDLESS PRESSURE TO COMMUNICATE INSTANTLY

REASON #2 (CONT’D) REASON #2 (CONT’D) ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT SO STRESSFUL THAT IT CANA BRING OUT THE WORST IN ANY PERSON, EVEN SOMEONE NORMALLY PLEASANT AND EASY GOING. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT SO STRESSFUL THAT IT CANA BRING OUT THE WORST IN ANY PERSON, EVEN SOMEONE NORMALLY PLEASANT AND EASY GOING.

REASON #3 REASON #3 EMPLOYERS CREATE EMPLOYEE PROBLEMS EMPLOYERS CREATE EMPLOYEE PROBLEMS EMPLOYERS MAY TALK “TEAM TALK” BUT NOT ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK EMPLOYERS MAY TALK “TEAM TALK” BUT NOT ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK EMPLOYERS MAY CREATE COMPETITION, AND PROMOTE INSECURITY BY REWARDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVMENT EMPLOYERS MAY CREATE COMPETITION, AND PROMOTE INSECURITY BY REWARDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVMENT

REASON #4 REASON #4 PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS FAMILY PROBLEMS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO PROBLEMS AT WORK FAMILY PROBLEMS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO PROBLEMS AT WORK WORK PROBLEMS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO PROBLEMS AT HOME WORK PROBLEMS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO PROBLEMS AT HOME FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE PROBLEMS WILL ONLY INCREASE FRUSTRATION AND STRESS FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE PROBLEMS WILL ONLY INCREASE FRUSTRATION AND STRESS

REASON #5 REASON #5 PEOPLE ARE COMPLEX PEOPLE ARE COMPLEX COMPANIES TRY TO HIRE TO “FIT THE MOLD” COMPANIES TRY TO HIRE TO “FIT THE MOLD” EACH EMPLOYEE IS AN INDIVIDUAL AND WILL BRING PERSONAL “BAGGAGE” TO THE WORKPLACE EACH EMPLOYEE IS AN INDIVIDUAL AND WILL BRING PERSONAL “BAGGAGE” TO THE WORKPLACE UNPREDICTABLE MIX OF PEOPLE/PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE UNPREDICTABLE MIX OF PEOPLE/PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE

WHAT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU CAN DO THERE ARE SOME FUNDAMENTAL KEYS TO GETTING ALONG WITH ANYONE. IN ADDITION TO SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, THERE ARE SOME “KEYS” TO ENABLE YOU TO WORK WITH ANYONE.

KEYS KEYS EMPATHY – DEMONSTRATE CARING AND UNDERSTANDING OF ANOTHER’S SITUATION, FEELINGS AND MOTIVES EMPATHY – DEMONSTRATE CARING AND UNDERSTANDING OF ANOTHER’S SITUATION, FEELINGS AND MOTIVES FLEXIBILITY- RESPOND IN A POSITIVE WAY TO CHANGE, ADAPT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS FLEXIBILITY- RESPOND IN A POSITIVE WAY TO CHANGE, ADAPT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS HUMOR- VIEW YOURSELF AND THE WORLD WITH ENJOYMENT, AMUSE AND AMAZE YOURSELF AND OTHERS HUMOR- VIEW YOURSELF AND THE WORLD WITH ENJOYMENT, AMUSE AND AMAZE YOURSELF AND OTHERS

KEYS KEYS INTELLIGENCE – ABILITY TO WORK CREATIVELY, EFFICIENTLY AND PLAN BEFORE TAKING ACTION INTELLIGENCE – ABILITY TO WORK CREATIVELY, EFFICIENTLY AND PLAN BEFORE TAKING ACTION OPTIMISM – EXPECTING THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME AND LOOKING FOR THE MOST HOPEFUL OR POSITIVE ASPECTS OF A SITUATION OPTIMISM – EXPECTING THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME AND LOOKING FOR THE MOST HOPEFUL OR POSITIVE ASPECTS OF A SITUATION

KEYS KEYS CONFIDENCE-HOW TO ATTAIN, HOW TO BUILD IN OTHERS CONFIDENCE-HOW TO ATTAIN, HOW TO BUILD IN OTHERS CURIOSITY – QUESTION “WHAT CAN I BRING TO THE SOLUTION”, ALLOWS YOU TO GROW CURIOSITY – QUESTION “WHAT CAN I BRING TO THE SOLUTION”, ALLOWS YOU TO GROW DECISIVENESS – BE SPECIFIC, MAKE DECISION IN A TIMELY, CONSISTENT MANNER DECISIVENESS – BE SPECIFIC, MAKE DECISION IN A TIMELY, CONSISTENT MANNER

KEYS KEYS PERSEVERANCE- THE PASSION, ENERGY, FOCUS AND DESIRE TO GET RESULTS, BEING UNWILLING TO QUIT UNTIL THE JOB GETS DONE. PERSEVERANCE- THE PASSION, ENERGY, FOCUS AND DESIRE TO GET RESULTS, BEING UNWILLING TO QUIT UNTIL THE JOB GETS DONE. RESPECT – TREATING OTHERS IN A CONSIDERATE, GRACIOUS AND THOUGHTFUL MANNER; PROTECTING ANOTHER PERSON’S SELF ESTEEM, FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS RESPECT – TREATING OTHERS IN A CONSIDERATE, GRACIOUS AND THOUGHTFUL MANNER; PROTECTING ANOTHER PERSON’S SELF ESTEEM, FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS

KEYS KEYS SELF AWARENESS – THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE, UNDERSTAND, AND MANAGE YOUR OWN MOODS, EMOTIONS, AND DRIVES, AS WELL AS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR EFFECT ON OTHERS. SELF AWARENESS – THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE, UNDERSTAND, AND MANAGE YOUR OWN MOODS, EMOTIONS, AND DRIVES, AS WELL AS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR EFFECT ON OTHERS.

UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS STRENGTHEN TRAITS YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN USING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE STRENGTHEN TRAITS YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN USING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE RECALL SITUATIONS THAT MADE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT PROJECTS YOU HAVE COMPLETED; WHAT WAS “GOOD” WITH THE SITUATION RECALL SITUATIONS THAT MADE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT PROJECTS YOU HAVE COMPLETED; WHAT WAS “GOOD” WITH THE SITUATION

YOUR POTENTIAL YOUR POTENTIAL ALWAYS EXPECT A GOOD DAY, A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, A PLEASANT DAY IN THE WORKPLACE ALWAYS EXPECT A GOOD DAY, A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, A PLEASANT DAY IN THE WORKPLACE YOU MAY NOT BE IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING, OR EVEN OF ANYTHING – BUT YOU ARE ALWAYS IN CHARGE OF YOU MAY NOT BE IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING, OR EVEN OF ANYTHING – BUT YOU ARE ALWAYS IN CHARGE OF YOU! YOU!