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Loving Monday: Try Another Perspective

The best way to survive a baffling co-worker is to spend a day in their shoes.

You may come out of the experience positively appreciating them!

Okay, let’s not get carried away. Difficult people can make work a nightmare. Instead of dreading them, avoiding them or continuing to battle them, what if you tried to see the world through their eyes?

We’re not saying, excuse their rudeness, laziness, or politicking. We’re suggesting that by understanding someone else’s perspective, you will better be able to engage them creatively and constructively, if not even collaboratively.

You create for yourself the opportunity to become an expert in what makes someone else tick.

Since it’s you who wants to “love Mondays,” so to speak, it’s you who needs alternatives to the status quo. Alternatives that you can implement whether or not others participate or respond as you might prefer.

So try a day in someone else’s shoes and let me know how it goes.

On your side,

- Karl



6 Responses to “Loving Monday: Try Another Perspective”

  1. Posts about Interpersonal conflict and dealing with people as of February 2, 2009 — Persuasive Skills and Savvy with Dr. K Says:

    […] Dr. Rick Kirschner (Who am I?) on February 2, 2009 Loving Monday: Try Another Perspective – boldenterprises.com 02/02/2009 The best way to survive a baffling co-worker is to spend a day in […]

  2. Goannatree Says:

    Great post. As cliched as it may sound. When i am having difficulty with a co-worker, particularly when it relates to my expectations of them being higher than their performance, i have taken to stepping back and assessing whether i have a charitable attitude towards them. I always have trouble if it involves a loose appreciation for the truth – but i have come to realise that i am as much a part of the problem if i have an unhealthy attitude toward them. I have taken to praying for people before i have interaction to help me be careful of my speech and to assist in my ability to communicate expectations in a clear and godly way.

  3. Bradley J Moore Says:

    Not always easy to get over our own bias and get inside the heads of problem employees. But always a good idea to look with love. honesty and seeing them as valuable for who they are.

  4. Karl Edwards Says:

    Anna,

    I think you’re biggest insight is, “that I am as much a part of the problem.” I have the hardest time getting leaders to accept the possibility that they might be a part of the problem.
    I’m convinced, though, that when a person gets insight into how they might be contributing to the problem and adjusts, the problem either goes away or those around you start making their own adjustments.

    Thanks for checking in.

  5. Karl Edwards Says:

    Bradley,

    Always love your thinking. What if we communicated the value we see in those with whom we work? What an amazingly different starting point than insisting that they prove themselves first.

    I’ll bet your team loves working with you.

  6. Goannatree Says:

    You’re welcome. Soemtimes it is important to realise that you still need to blow of some steam – though i am working on not venting too much because going over and over the same problems with colleagues in my head can cause me to perpetuate feelings of frustration and begin to expect to see this in their behaviour! These kind of articles are important to help us to keep perspective!

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