Dealing With Difficult People

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‘Understand that everyone behaves differently to you.’

‘Welcome the differences around you, and only see them as a problem when they are a barrier to results.’

‘Keep asking: are you on the same wavelength as others?’

‘If you are to bring about successful change, study the change process?’

‘Be assertive yourself and encourage the same behavior in others.’

‘Look what’s behind the behaviour before you decide how to respond.’

‘How well do you manage your own emotions and emotions of others?

‘Know yourself if you are to work successfully with others.’

For others to have confidence in you, develop your own confidence.’

‘To understand yourself better, ask how others perceive you.’

‘Before you can influence others, first see the world from their perspective.’

‘Form a clear, specific view of the difficult person before tackling the problem.’

‘Ask yourself how people are different to you before you try to change things.’

‘If you want people to change, appeal to what turns them on.’

‘Seek to be trusted before you seek to persuade or change.’

‘If you want to work harmoniously with people, allow for cultural differences.’

‘Is your leadership there to see?’

‘Unless you want to be at everybody else’s mercy, start with the end in mind.’

‘Use measures of success as a regular tool to motivate those around you.’

Reward anyone doing the things that drive the organization forward.’

‘Will you reinforce the behaviours that you want to see?’

‘Whatever your position, communicate, communicate, communicate.’

‘Don’t rush to apportion blame. Do the diagnosis to find the real problem.’

‘Ask yourself- what is stopping the task from getting done?’

‘Be aware of the unwritten agreements that exist in the workplace.’

‘Be aware of the value of a third party for offering and objective view.’

‘Accept that different types are needed in a successful team.’

‘Treat feedback to you as an opportunity for you to overcome obstacles.’

‘Recognize that how you say something and your body language are often more important than the words themselves.’

‘Put a bit of thought into any meeting where you anticipate difficulty with someone.’

‘Join in with other people’s ‘dances’ if you want to communicate with them.’

‘Aim to ‘express your concern’ rather than ‘complain’.’

Before you seek to influence, ask yourself, who has the power?’

‘Make learning a shared experiences in order to develop good relationships.’

‘Take time to understand their situation before you label someone difficult.’

‘Check the symptoms and root causes before you decide how to approach your problem person.’

‘If you want good relationships with those around you, get alongside each other!’

Source:

David Brown (2011). The Art and Science of Dealing with Difficult People

‘When Leaders Truly Listen’

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‘In a speak-up culture, people feel it is both safe and worth it to share ideas, concerns, disagreements, and mistakes.’

‘When people feel cared for, they are more likely to extend that care to others.’

Vulnerability doesn’t mean sharing everything- that could simply be oversharing. Vulnerability does mean sharing what is relevant, which includes admitting when you don’t yet know an answer or need help.’

‘If we want to cultivate a speak-up culture, we must embody the Platinum Rule: treat people as they wish to be treated.’

Any journey worth going on is made better when it’s shared.’-

Stephen Shedletzky

Recruitthebest.org

‘A toxic relationship, with a leader, or with anyone, is one in which the more you invest in that relationship, the worse it seemingly gets.’

‘Leaders go first- they listen first, extend trust first, and courageously venture into the unknown first.’

‘Great leaders are obsessed with building deeper relationships with their own attributes and skills, the people around them, and the world at large.’

‘Leadership is about owning our impact on others, even if that impact was unintended.’

‘No matter how great we are at leading, the time test of our leadership is in our ability to help others become great leaders, who then help others become great leaders.’

Our job as a leader is to teach, guide, mentor, coach, and support, not to tell people how we did it and make them do it our way.’

Source:

Stephen Shedletzky (2023). Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up