Coping With Difficult People

Review by for Working With Difficult People
Rating:
I bought this book when it first came out over a decade ago. It’s a classic (or should be). It covers the behavior in groups (e.g. “Pushy/Presumtious People”, “Exploitive People”) and further divides each group into how it is manifested in Bosses, Peers, and Suborbdinates. The author is very perceptive in describing the patterns, what insecurities drive people to behave that way, and methods for dealing with them. The advice is very practical and appropriate to the case. Sometimes it’s on the order of “give them some attention to get a return”, sometimes it’s “define your boundaries” and sometimes it’s “this is toxic, walk away.”

Review by Michael Taylor for Working With Difficult People
Rating:
Solomon (not King Solomon, but does have some of his wisdom) has written a good book for dealing with workers of three different classes: bosses, colleagues, and subordinates. The book is also broken down into 10 major areas in dealing with all three types:

1. Hostile/Angry.

2. Pushy/Presumptuous.

3. Deceitful/Underhanded.

4. Shrewd/Manipulative.

5. Rude/Abusive.

6. Egotistical/Self-Centered.

7. Proscrastinating/Vacillating.

8. Rigid/Obstinate.

9. Tight-Lipped/Taciturn.

10. Complaining/Critical.

Each section also contains:

1. A brief definition of the person and the personality characteristics typically displayed.

2. Hypothetically what you may be thinking of that person.

3. What the person hypothetically may be thinking about you and the work place.

4. A strategy for dealing with that person.

5. Tactical talk - suggested actual words you may use.

6. Closing tips on what else you can do.

I enjoyed the narrative’s smooth flow and practical advice. However, I sometimes believe the author treated the situation and offender with kid gloves. In today’s work environment, bosses, colleagues, and subordinates have to be decisive and firm with problem employess who threaten to disrupt a work environment that is already tense due to the nature of work and long hours put in by many employees. Sometimes you just have to either let people go or put them in a situation where they will have to adjust their behavior to get along!

I would recommend the book as a primer, not the last word on workplace relations. There are other ones out there (John Maxwell, Max Dupree, Larry Burkett, etc.) who may give more substantative advice on dealing with people in the work place. Still a good read.