Teamwork and Color Models

Creating better attitudes and positive outcomes

The Ten Commandments of Confrontation

1. Do it privately, not publicly.

2. Do it as soon as possible.

3. Speak to one issue at a time.

4. Once you've make a point don't keep repeating it.

5. Deal only with behaviors the person can change.

6. Avoid sarcasm.

7. Avoid words like "always" and "never".

8. Present criticisms as suggestions or questions if possible.

9. Don't apologize for the confrontation.

10. Don't forget the compliments.

>> Dealing With Difficult People - Steve Mills

Getting Along With Everyone

Written by David A Sokolik | April 28, 2010

Learning To Handle A Colorful
Personality Page 1



"How well we understand ourselves has a profound impact on our ability to navigate the social realm. In some areas, we know ourselves better than others do. But in other areas, we're so biased by our need to see ourselves in a good light that we become strangers to ourselves."

We need to remember that there are reasons for every action that a person may exhibit and our perceptions of their actions are controlled by our own experiences. The key here is awareness and understanding, creating office drama, spreading rumors and other forms of abuse do not help the matter. Abusive personalities take on many different forms; one of which is ignorance.

By being closed off to the troubles of others, simply assuming that he is a "jerk", she is so "obsessive", or that one is so "easy" simply by the way that we perceive their actions closes the opportunity to see what lies underneath the surface. There have been so many times in my life that I have befriended the "hard to deal with" simply by getting to know them, seeing how they tick, and showing some understanding.

"The difference between how you see yourself and how others see you is not just a matter of egocentrism. We all have blind spots. We change our self-conception when we see ourselves through others' eyes. Part of the discrepancy arises because the outsider's perspective affords information you yourself miss -- like the fact that it looks like you're scowling when you're listening, or that you talk over other people."

By creating an environment of openness and understanding in our home lives, classrooms and workplaces we will create a more stable environment, a "no drama zone" so to speak. We need to be aware of what makes people's personalities the way they are, whether it is low self-esteem, past abuse, the need for perfection, or simply the fear of being alone.

We need to make our lives about more than ourselves. We need to allow others to have their own personal victories.

Awareness, understanding, patience will create better attitude in ourselves and in others allowing for greater personal fulfillment and progression through life.

>> Mixed Signals, by Sam Gosling. May 9, 2009