How to Handle Conflicting Personality Styles
Occasionally you encounter someone that you simply do not get along with. Perhaps a person is more of a casual and laid-back type, and you might be more regimented and strict. In these situations, particularly in the workplace, serious personality conflicts and tensions could arise. Learn how to deal with opposing personality types in order to establish a productive and conflict-free atmosphere..
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Communicate. Direct communication is key to managing differences in personality. If you are dealing with a difficult person, talk to him one-on-one. Do not drag anyone else into the situation. Discuss the perceived conflict rationally, calmly and without aggression, finger pointing and anger. Focus solely on solving problems that are counterproductive to your mutual goals and stay away from discussing the differences in your personality types.
-
2
Engage in active listening. To abstain from confrontations with a conflicting personality type, try actively listening to what the other person has to say. This kind of listening is at the other end of the spectrum from defensive listening, which involves thinking up your retort instead of truly hearing the words coming out of the other person's mouth. Refrain from judging the other person and display that you are listening by repeating and paraphrasing some of the main ideas. Make sure that you got the correct message by requesting feedback. After ensuring that your interpretation is correct, finally respond to what the other person had to say.
-
-
3
Eliminate feelings of competition. If you must deal with a conflicting personality type for whatever reason, try to approach revamping the relationship to function more as a team, rather than as competitors. This can be effective especially in workplace situations. Emphasize a team outlook for everyday tasks and use words such as "we" and "us" as opposed to "me" and "I."
-
4
Display empathy. An important step to managing conflicting personalities is empathy. Set all of the negative feelings you might have about the other person aside for a while. Try to observe life from her viewpoint. Take into account crucial factors that could affect her outlook, whether it is gender, economics or culture.
-
5
Appreciate differences. Instead of judging and looking down on another person who might think differently from you, make an honest attempt to appreciate your differences instead. Remember that in order for a team situation to thrive, personality differences are vital. Whether you are the roommates or the coworker of a difficult person, your differences can be used as strengths.
-
6
Ask questions. When people feel hostile towards each other, it is common for them to keep their feelings bottled up inside. To thrive in any situation, clarification is necessary. Convey respectful feelings and an attitude that shows you want a mutual compromise by clarifying feelings, needs, ideas and problems with people that have different personality types than you.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
In some cases, putting some distance between yourself and the conflicting personality is the only way to truly handle the problem, especially if the other person simply isn't willing to try making a permanent change.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
