Have you ever worked with someone who is so bone-on-bone and abrasive that you can’t stand them by mid-day? I’ve worked in a number of companies where it’s obvious that different personalities can’t always come together. Sure, differences in people are good (you gain unique perspectives and ways of thinking) but in so many cases it’s best to like the people you work with.
That’s not always possible, of course, so you have to make the best of it. I try to be light-hearted and animated. That’s a true sign that I, or people around me do not get along with you: I’m showing emotion (see description in header). It’s so easy to get sucked into the negativity that when I can rise above and joke around it sometimes resolves a otherwise awkward situation.
I’m lucky, though.I can be patient and outwardly tolerant of just about anything (aren’t I great?). But, I’ve watched people bicker and struggle with each other. At one of my previous jobs I just sat back and watched a colleague quit within a month of joining. That’s disruptive to everyone. Now, I do my best to contribute to a peaceful environment with jokes and an all-around good attitude.
As lame as it may sound, the act of simply turing the frown upside down may be all it takes to diffuse a tricky situation.
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Nice post Devin. I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels this way. Often a negative attitude leads to decreased productivity for everyone in the workplace.
One person holding a positive attitude often helps everyone cheer up and work better.
Some people are so involved in bitching about every little problem that they could have solved it in the time they spent bitching about it.
Seems to me there’s a bigger issue in the way these people look at life.
Great insight that should be addressed more often. True, not everyone on a team gets along. You can’t force that, but you can do things to try to improve on them.
For instance, my boss had my co-worker and I do the following exercise during a weekly meeting. Understand that the 3 of us got along, no major fights or anything like that, but we did all 3 have different working ways. My boss and I were very much alike (focused on the tasks, thinkers…not feelers) and our new teammate was a MAJOR feeler and wanted the personal interaction that we weren’t giving to her.
Bossman had us list, on a whiteboard, the things that made us a bad teammate. My things listed were things like “hate to delegate, impatient, perfectionist, etc.” It was a great way for us to point out things about ourselves that we know are difficult for others to work with on a team.
Here’s the kicker…he made the rule that any of us were allowed to bring up any of those things listed at any time we felt they were showing through with each other. It meant that it was out in the open, which also meant we were to each be ok with being approached about them. What a great way to open communication about things that could break a team down.
So how does this tie into your post on personalities? If these things/personality differences were brought out into the open, in a non-threatening way, they could be easier to address in the future. It could mean not losing someone on a team due to differences in personalities and/or actually making a better work environment for all.
You have a new follower of your blog. Can’t believe I haven’t checked it out before. Merry Christmas to me! =)
I agree, Brad. There’s so many more worse things going on in the world, we should pick our battles a little better sometimes.
Thanks for stopping by Karen-that’s an interesting exercise, I may have to try it some time. But, in order to describe yourself to others you must first know thyself. That’s why I like to take those management and strength tests so I can better explain ‘Devin’ to the world (as if the world cared?).
i think the corporate world has made me a worse person in the last two years!
i would never have thought adults were capable of some of the stuff i see day to day.
and office space? a movie i used to think was profoundly funny in college? still makes me laugh but now, it also makes a little part of my insides cry. because it’s just too true.
but i do try to maintain a good spirit and smile as much as i can.
and when i can’t?
well, that’s what the door for the office is for
Ah yes, I don’t have a door anymore. Some days get hard and I’m sitting across from this person all day… I end up taking a few extra water breaks.
Continuing the Discussion