Ten steps to better working relationships
Help your colleagues maintain good working relationships with Video Arts ten steps to better working relationships.
Because every workplace has diverse people, all of us will, occasionally, come across some that we find difficult to work with. They may seem moody, unmotivated, uncaring, selfish, mean, unfair, intolerant, loud or rude - or they may simply ‘rub us up the wrong way’ for reasons that we can’t quite articulate.
The tougher the times the more likely that people will find it difficult to get over differences in working styles and behaviours but, if left to fester, these clashes can result in organisations suffering from demotivated teams, resignations and, in extreme cases, expensive tribunal settlements.
Eve Ash, the Australian psychologist and author, who has produced over 500 training films, offers the following tips for resolving a personality clash:
Your ten steps to better working relationships
- Acknowledge the past without blame
- Give positive feedback
- Start with specific issues (I noticed that you…)
- Explain carefully, providing reasons (It can be annoying because…)
- Listen, acknowledge and ask for feedback
- Apologise for any inappropriate behaviour of your own
- Offer to change
- Make practical suggestions (It would be good if in the future …)
- Provide encouragement
- Reinforce goals and actions for the future
Sounds straightforward, but it’s easy to go ‘off-script’ and become irrational when we’re faced with someone whose behaviour is driving us crazy. That’s why it’s really important to remain calm and open: being honest about your feelings will show them that you’re trying.
It’s also very likely that they will disagree with your assessment and try to start an argument. Stay in control. Keep to the issue at hand and focus on facts, tasks and what you can both do to make a difference to the situation and improve your communication in the future.
The above tips are taken from Eve Ash’s new series of DVD-based learning programmes on managing difficult people and situations. The series comprises four DVDs which provide dramatised case studies to help leaders, managers and team members to overcome personality clashes, leadership blunders, bullying and harassment and client service disasters.
Each of the four programmes - Personality Clash, Leadership Sins, Bullying and Harassment and Damage Control - includes a 15-minute DVD and a workbook with activities, exercises, quizzes and examples. The four programmes are available individually for £399 each or as a series for £1,299.
