How to Talk to Anyone at Work: 72 Little Tricks for Big Success in Business Relationships

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Gagging Coworkers You Can’t Stand

She’s heading your way with that all-too-familiar “I can’t wait to tell you” expression on her face. You brace yourself for another painful concert of moans and groans. You try to be compassionate because you know that, deep down, complainers crave acceptance and are looking for ways to bond with you. These poor folks think that they have no control over what happens to them and that the problem is always someone else’s fault. They’re just defenseless victims of the boss, the company, the department, or the ever-popular unspecified “they.”

In addition, doomsayers feel thoroughly justified in bringing the catastrophe to your attention. I mean somebody’s got to, right? Otherwise the disaster would get worse, ...