Yes, you can make friends with the people at work. Even the ones who annoy you the most.
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“People are the problem!” This is invariably the answer I get when I ask what the number one problem in a workplace is. It might be managers who “can’t manage.” It might be leaders who are “out of touch with what is really going on.” It might be a colleague who is overly competitive, obstructive or a downright nuisance.
There is a saying that people stay at work because of their team-mates but leave because of their boss. Quiet a sad indictment.
People rarely are the actual problem.
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People rarely are the actual problem. However we tend lump people in with the problem. If you really want to deal with problem people at work, see them as a human being and choose to connect with them. See what you have in common rather than what divides you.
Bill’s story
I had a coaching session this week with Bill who is having all kinds of issues with his colleagues and team. On the face of it, this was confusing as if you were to meet Bill, you would see that he is one of the most people focused nice guys around. He actually has really good people skills.
As we spoke, I started to ask what the situation was. Bill screwed up his face in a grimace.
I really need them to be more proactive…
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“Things are rocky with the team.” He continued, “They are good people but they just don’t do what I need them to do.” He pointed to a couple of team members, “They always deliver what I ask them to, but I really need them to be more proactive, to take on more and be prepared to do different things.”
I asked Bill a couple of pretty obvious questions that you are probably thinking right now.
“What does it look like to be proactive? What behaviours would you see? More to the point, have you ever told your team?.”
Bill reverts to type – a big picture thinker who doesn’t think in detail.
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In the cold hard light of day, you might think this is obvious but it requires thought. Bill is crazy busy with tons of things to deliver. Under pressure, Bill reverts to type – a big picture thinker who doesn’t think in detail. The great thing about a coaching session is that it gave Bill time to step back and think.
“I don’t think I have ever actually told them what my expecations are explicitly,” Bill continued. “We just don’t talk about how we work together. It is not the kind of conversation we have at this company.”
Have you ever asked them what their expectations are?
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I picked Bill up on that right away. “Have you ever asked them what their expectations are? Or, have you ever asked them how you can get the best out of them?” I believe that most people come to work to do a good job, and will tell you how best to work with them if you simply ask.
“No” Bill said, looking perplexed. “I just assumed that being the manager that it was my job to motivate them. I want everyone on the team to be happy and to get along.”
Knowing Bill, I knew this was completely true from his perspective. Harmony is one of his biggest values.
What makes people happy and productive really is different for everyone.
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“The thing is, Bill, that’s what makes people happy and productive really is different for everyone. One size doesn’t fit all.” Again, to the observer this might seem obvious, but who really has the time to really stop and think about this kind of thing at great length?
“One of your team members is itching to be stretched and needs to feel like he is achieving,” I explained. “Another needs consistent feedback when she is going a good job, but you to explain the specifics of what makes it a good job. Just thanking her won’t wash. She wants concrete details.” These kinds of little nuances are what make ALL the difference.
Bill’s face dropped and broadened into a big smile as the lightbulb went on.
I need to be vulnerable enough to ask them how to get the best out of them.“In my busy-ness, I have been seeing them as the problem especially as we are all stressed and revert to type. What I am seeing is that I need to step into each of these relationships, ask each person about how we are working together,” he said pensively. I need to be vulnerable enough to ask them how to get the best out of them. I also need to be honest about what I can give them and what I can’t…but we need to have a very human conversation.”
Needless to say at this point Bill wasn’t the only one smiling!
Here are seven principles to help you overcome people problems and deal with the real human being behind the issue.
- Separate problems from people
See them as a person first – when we are stressed and under pressure, we can easily see another person as a faceless problem. The moment we see the other person as the problem, we make them wrong and treat them as such. That is never going to get us to a solution as it won’t endear us to them or make them inclined to cooperate.
- They are only human too
We all have our challenges and issues…and insecurities. Underneath it all, we all want to be loved and understood. When you understand that everyone you work with really does have problems that are as big to them as yours are to you, you bring empathy and compassion into the situation. This is the first step in building bridges.
- Seek first to understand then be understood
Most of us are stuck in our own little world and can only really see our own stuff…and assume that others don’t get how bad our situation is. Ask questions and seek to really understand the other person’s world first, and they will be far more inclined to try to understand yours.
- Be generous and give the benefit of the doubt
What I am talking about here is being socially generous. That extends to assuming that everyone has a positive reason behind their behaviour or is seeking to do a good job, even if right now you don’t get it. Give them the benefit of the doubt and find out their perspective.
- Choose connection rather than separation
This is the biggie especially in the work place. Choose to have the very human conversation about a situation and be vulnerable and sincere in your approach. Choose to build the connection rather than reinforce the separation. You might initially be met with some skepticism, but most people will respond positively when you see them as human rather than the source of a problem.
- People do not think or feel the same way as you
This is a hard one to really see and understand beyond an intellectual understanding, but personality typing systems such as Myers Briggs and the Enneagram can give a real insight into what makes a person tick on a deep level. I am not talking about just different experiences or values here, but that people are wired quite differently and if you can really understand this, you can really take a step into another person’s world.
- Play to their communication style
This extends to knowing what works best for communicating with the other person. Bill being a big picture person hadn’t really grasped that his team member wanted to know what specifically and in detail what she was doing well and needed to improve on. His “harmony” perspective had him thanking her and wondering why his thanks didn’t have the impact he wanted it to. If you can understand what is meaningful to how the other person communicates, you will remove a big barrier to connection.
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Photo:Flickr/Moresheth