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Working with Difficult People
Book

Working with Difficult People

Muriel Solomon
Prentice Hall Press, 2002
First Edition: 1990

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

What is it about the human race? To paraphrase Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda, 80% of people don’t want to hear about your problems, and the other 20% are happy you’re having trouble. Those 20%, that is the backstabbers, saboteurs, sadists, know-it-alls, insulters and hotheads, are the subject of Muriel Solomon’s street-smart book. In it, the self-dubbed “strategic talking” expert categorizes many types of difficult people you might encounter at work. To make the book very applicable, she introduces each personality, explains why such individuals think as they do, how you are likely to react to their behavior, and what strategies you can use to protect yourself. Unless you work alone, getAbstract expects that you, like most team players, probably have your hands full dealing with a complete chorus of “false hounds” and “rascally knaves.” This book can help you minimize their damage. Since you can’t always get away from such people, you might as well learn how to put them in their place diplomatically. Or, if that doesn’t work, you can quote Shakespeare: “I do desire we may be better strangers.” Forsooth.

Take-Aways

  • Adopt the right perspective about difficult people. Realize that their actions aren’t personal. In fact, with them, nothing is personal.
  • If people attack you, put your hurt feelings aside. Plan a constructive response.
  • Don’t expect contentious people to change – they never will. On the plus side, this makes them predictable.

About the Author

Muriel Solomon writes books on conflict, cooperation and related business issues. Solomon lectures often about her “strategic talking” approach to help people get the results they want at work.

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