Working with difficult people

[Duke]

Since I'm on a bit of a rampage given a difficult event at work today, I see no reason why not to branch this out into other areas of discussion

Since a good portion of our daily lives is spent working and since not all of the people we're forced to work with are all wonderful, my question is how do you work with difficult people?

Are you the type of person who just deals with difficult people pretty much the same as everyone else or do you treat difficult people differently?

[LovingSpirit]

Yup, I treat them differently........I avoid them the best I can and when I can't, I never show them that their behavior has effected me one way or the other. They want to see this and I refuse to give it to them.

[Luba]

It's very hard working with difficult people; it seems that they are the ones that get the breaks, the Bosses seem to listen to them, and they get away with murder. I've never understood why that happens through all the years I've worked on the three different jobs I've had. It seemed the pattern was always the same. I think the feeling of despair comes with that as one tries to tow the line, be positive, do the best one can and it never seems enough in some jobs.

I let it get to me in one of the jobs and vowed not to let it happen in the next, which I mostly didn't. If some of the old feelings did come up, I handled them immediately within myself and vowed not to let it bring me down again. I didn't make it known how I felt to anyone, just going home, thinking it through and vowed to let it pass, and make the best of tomorrow. On days like that, I just kept my head down and did my own job until it passed.

There are always going to be difficult, lazy, kissy-@ss people around in any job, that's just a fact of life.

[LovingSpirit]

There are always going to be difficult, lazy, kissy-@ss people around in any job, that's just a fact of life.

Ain't that the truth. I've been the victim of bullying on the job. I've had several jobs that I had this problem on. I always ended up leaving, because I felt I deserved better. I was always willing to go the extra mile for my employers, so if I was treated disrespectfully, or bullied, I left. I always made a point to be a good employee. I swear, that's really not what an employer really wants. What they really want is a yes man, brown noser. Experience, respect and integrity often go to the way side in favor of brown nosing. It's a shame.

[Luba]

Originally Posted by LovingSpirit

Ain't that the truth. I've been the victim of bullying on the job. I've had several jobs that I had this problem on. I always ended up leaving, because I felt I deserved better. I was always willing to go the extra mile for my employers, so if I was treated disrespectfully, or bullied, I left. I always made a point to be a good employee. I swear, that's really not what an employer really wants. What they really want is a yes man, brown noser. Experience, respect and integrity often go to the way side in favor of brown nosing. It's a shame.

Isn't THAT the truth? I remember in one job, a particular favourite of the boss would most ALWAYS come in late and she was Never reprimanded for it. The boss seemed to laugh about it, and was amazed when she did show up on time. It was concluded that was who she was and it was accepted.

[Duke]

I actually make working with me difficult when I have no respect for the person/people I'm forced to work with. I'm not proactive with this mindset either, I simply mirror their behavior back to them plus add an additional sprinkle of grief just for the aggravation they cause me.

If I don't like or respect you as a co-worker, you usually know about it pretty much right away.

[Vautrin]

I work with a colleague from hell. A person can hardly be more offensive than her, and she is not even trying, and completely oblivious to the fact that she is offensive.

Might be a cultural thing ...

Either way, I try to avoid her as much as possible.

[Duke]

Originally Posted by Vautrin

I work with a colleague from hell. A person can hardly be more offensive than her, and she is not even trying, and completely oblivious to the fact that she is offensive.

Might be a cultural thing ...

Either way, I try to avoid her as much as possible.

This sounds very similar to a lady I work with that virtually everyone I know has complained about. She's simply ignorant and not so because of her role, she clearly doesn't like people, period.

I personally don't have too many issues with her however because (according to one of my coworkers), she's either afraid of me or doesn't know how to take my communication style.

[Vautrin]

Well, she is taking "ignorant" to the next level, despite having a bachelor's degree?!? Shows what education amounts to these days .

[Duke]

Well book smart doesn't necessarily mean smart person. Anyone can regurgitate something they read or have been taught, it's the free thinkers that move forward and build upon the foundation teaching provides.

The rest just regress.

[Vautrin]

Yes, but her ignorance would only be equalled by Americans who have not heard of George Washington, or Catholics not knowing the faith of the pope ...

[IR_Efrem]

I am not a people person.... at all. I hate ignorance and have very little tolerance. If some one treats me in an horrible manner, I go out of my way to hurt that person on any personal level that I can. I have sent people into a rage and made others cry.

Do these people have any type of impact on me? No, I have been through much worse than a cranky co-worker. But I do not like seeing how they effect others.

I do not feel bad for doing it either. I have seen the impact that these type of people have on others, "people that sit there and stress so much because of their co-workers, go home, and cry or DREAD going to work the next day." I have no problem turning that level of ignorance right back to the user. Which means that I do not work well with many people.

I do not last long in a group environment. When I get fired I take the jerk with me. I have done this several times in my life now.... Still not ashamed of it.

[Vautrin]

IR, we are quite alike.

I actually have to restrain myself not to call her on her appalling behavior (since she is on a contract, and I am not), but I resent doing that. One of these days, ...

But people know what is going on, and people know I have no tolerance of ignorance.