Getting Along

13

Approaches That Rarely Work

They’ll only make things worse.

One of my favorite questions to ask people who are dealing with a difficult colleague is: “What would you do about this situation if you could do anything you wanted?”

I suggest they put aside financial considerations, societal norms, and any repercussions. The answers range from practical to entertaining to a bit scary (there are lots of people who want to punch an annoying colleague in the face!). Many fantasize about quitting dramatically. Others just want to tell their coworker exactly how they feel without mincing words. God knows I’ve come up with some nasty comebacks in my head while walking my dog.

There are two reasons I ask this question. First, I want people to think expansively ...