제프 [ 가명 ]는 저처럼 작가이자 연설가이며 컨설팅 회사의 대표입니다. 제가 아는 한, 그는 전문적이고, 존경받으며, 유능하고, 정직하며, 많은 팬을 보유하고 있습니다. 우리 둘 다 아는 분이 프로젝트 협업을 제안하셨는데, 함께 일하는 데는 분명히 상호 이익이 있을 것 같습니다.]
다 괜찮은 것 같은데 한 가지가 빠졌어요. 저는 제프를 좋아하지 않아요.
뭔가 마음에 안 들어요. 너무 이기적이거나 자기중심적이거나 자기만족적인 것 같아요. 정확히 뭔지는 모르겠지만, 저는 그를 좋아하지 않아요.
같이 일하자고 하는 사람에게 그 이야기를 했더니, 그냥 극복하라고 하더군요. "그 사람을 꼭 좋아할 필요는 없지만, 같이 일하는 게 현명할 거예요."라고 그녀가 말했습니다.
그러면 자신이 싫어하는 사람과 어떻게 함께 일할 수 있을까?
단순히 소통이 원활하지 않거나 회의를 제대로 진행하지 못해서 당신을 짜증나게 하는 사람에 대해 이야기하는 것이 아닙니다. 물론 시간 낭비는 짜증나는 일이죠. 특히 더 잘할 수 있다고 생각할 때 더욱 그렇습니다. 하지만 그건 싫어하는 것과는 다릅니다. 회의를 제대로 진행하지 못하는 좋아하는 사람(당신은 그들을 돕고 싶어 합니다)과 싫어하는 사람(그와 함께 일하는 것을 그만두고 싶거나, 회의가 너무 길면 그 사람을 없애고 싶어 합니다)에 대한 당신의 반응이 어떻게 다른지 생각해 보세요.
싫어하는 사람과 함께 일할 때 흔히 듣는 조언은 관계를 비인격화하라는 것입니다. 그냥 필요한 일이라면 무엇이든 처리하고 넘어가세요. 다시 말해, 그냥 웃으며 참으세요.
하지만 저는 그것이 거의 불가능하다는 것을 알았습니다.우리가 싫어하는 사람들은 우리를 미치게 만들고, 우리는 그들에 대해 불평하거나, 그들과 해야 할 대화에 대해 스트레스를 받는 데 엄청난 시간을 낭비합니다.
그리고 그게 최악은 아닙니다. 더 심각한 문제는 당신이 누군가를 싫어하면, 상대방도 그 사실을 알고 있다는 것입니다. 그러면 상대방도 당신을 싫어하게 될 것입니다. 싫어하는 사람과 함께 일하는 게 힘들다고 생각된다면, 당신을 싫어하는 사람과 함께 일해 보세요.
정말 간단해요. 잘 지내는 사람들은 당신을 도울 방법을 찾을 거고, 잘 지내지 못하는 사람들은 당신을 방해할 방법을 찾을 거예요.
호감을 얻는 것은 부인할 수 없는 이점을 제공합니다. 연구에 따르면, 더 많은 사람이 당신을 좋아할수록 당신의 삶은 더 수월하고, 더 생산적이며, 더 수익성이 높아집니다. 즉, 당신과 잘 맞지 않는 사람, 비록 당신이 웃으며 참아낸다 하더라도, 그것은 위험을 초래한다는 것을 의미합니다.
그러면 웃어넘기고 참는 것이 손해 보는 전략이라면, 대안은 무엇일까?
잠시, 당신이 누군가를 싫어하는 이유를 생각해 보세요. 어쩌면 그 사람이 탐욕스럽다고 생각할 수도 있고, 이기적이라고 생각할 수도 있고, 무시하거나, 아니면 완전히 못된 사람이라고 생각할 수도 있습니다. 다시 말해, 그 사람에게는 당신을 괴롭히는 성격적 결함이나 불쾌한 특징이 있을 수 있습니다. 제가 제프를 이기적이고, 자기중심적이며, 자기만족적이라고 보는 것처럼요.
이제, 가장 어려운 부분은, 여러분의 정신의 어둡고 어두운 부분에서 여러분 자신 안에 있는 그 불쾌한 특성의 파편을 감지할 수 있는지 생각해 보는 것입니다.
당신은 탐욕스럽고, 이기적이고, 무시하고, 노골적으로 못되게 굴 수 있나요? 당신은 정말로 당신의 그런 면이 마음에 들지 않죠, 그렇죠? 당신은 당신의 그런 면과 거리를 두고 싶어 합니다. 마치 당신이 싫어하는 사람과 거리를 두고 싶어 하는 것처럼요.
다시 말해, 애초에 당신이 그 사람을 참을 수 없는 이유는, 그 사람이 당신이 자신에 대해 참을 수 없는 점을 떠올리게 하기 때문일 가능성이 큽니다.
갑자기, 싫어하는 사람들과 함께 일하는 것이 훨씬 더 흥미로워집니다. 왜냐하면 그들을 더 잘 알게 되고, 그들의 마음에 들지 않는 부분을 받아들이는 것은 사실 나 자신을 더 잘 알게 되고, 나 자신의 마음에 들지 않는 부분을 받아들이는 것이기 때문입니다.
그렇다면 다른 사람에 대한 혐오감을 극복하는 방법은 무엇일까요? 바로 자신에 대한 혐오감을 극복하는 것입니다.
바로 이럴 때 당신이 싫어하는 사람이 도움이 될 수 있습니다. 그 사람을 통해 자신을 더 잘 이해해 보세요. 왜 그와 사이가 좋지 않은지 생각해 보세요. 그의 어떤 행동이 당신을 그렇게 힘들게 할까요? 회의를 제대로 진행하거나 이메일을 제대로 쓰지 못하는 그의 무능함을 넘어, 당신을 진짜로 짜증 나게 하는 것이 무엇인지 파악해 보세요. 그의 성격이나 행동의 어떤 부분이 당신에게 짜증이나 혐오감을 불러일으키나요? 당신은 그의 어떤 점을 싫어하나요?
그런 다음, 당신의 답변이 어떻게 당신을 반영하는지 생각해 보세요. 이것은 게임이고, 당신은 자신에게서 그 싫어하는 행동을 찾아내는 것으로 승리합니다.
제프는 제가 싫어하는 제 자신의 특성을 반영했습니다. 즉, 제가 이기적이고 자만심이 강하고 자기만족적일 수 있는 방식입니다.
탐욕스럽거나 이기적이거나 무시하거나 완전히 못되게 굴고 싶을 때를 떠올려 보세요. 눈에 보이나요? 매력과 혐오감이 동시에 느껴지나요? 흑백논리로 구분할 수 없다는 걸 스스로 인정할 수 있나요? 흑백논리입니다. 자신의 인간성의 복잡성을 감당할 수 있나요? 그것이 바로 자신에게 자비를 베푸는 비결입니다.
그리고 자신에게 자비를 베푸는 것이 다른 사람에게 자비를 베푸는 비결입니다. 어느새 전에는 좋아하지 않았던 사람들도 좋아하게 될 거예요. 어쩌면 그 사람들이 회의를 더 생산적으로 진행하도록 돕고 싶은 마음이 들 수도 있겠죠.
이제 제프에게서 제 모습을 쉽게 볼 수 있어요. 이기적이고 자만심에 가득 차 있을 수도 있고, 자만심에 빠져 있을 수도 있죠. 특히 글을 쓸 때는 여전히 그걸 인정하기 힘들지만, 제 정체성의 일부이고, 적절한 분량이라면 제게 큰 도움이 될 거예요.
그리고 그걸 인정하는 데에는 추가적인 보너스가 있습니다. 이제 저는 제프를 좋아하게 되었습니다.
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21 PAST RESPONSES
Weigh, measure and compare will feed the ego, close ourselves off from introspection and not serve our highest good. Stop these things and our compassion grows, nourishing the love within ourselves and feeds the soul and broadens our consciousness and hey, how could that be bad?
This fellow has a point, I think, in certain instances, but to write as if it's a broader answer and tact is an error.
He writes:
"In other words, chances are, the reason you can’t stand that person in the first place, is that they remind you of what you can’t stand about yourself.Suddenly, working with people you don’t like becomes a lot more interesting. Because getting to know them better, and accepting the parts of them you don’t like, is actually getting to know yourself better and accepting the parts of yourself you don’t like."
This is so simplistic: If somebody is obnoxious, arrogant, and disrespectful, that means so am
I ???? ..if I look deeply enough? I have a downside but it's not meanness of being unfair.
I imagine this is true for some, but not, by a long stretch, for many. It is possible for a person to be a selfish aggressor and mean spirited also (that being their primal agenda). Put that person in a 'one uP' hierarchy' and do it with a decent, civilized, well grounded person and you may have the same thing killers do their killed: Become king, because they can and will make the ultimate aggression.
O.K. enough of me and my shadow, I think the writer has a point but a very limited one.
My recommendation: consider the 'primal emotions' that many of these impossible situations elicit in even the most well adjusted person: protect yourself or perish.
[Hide Full Comment]That's just your own personal experience and personal thoughts I read you article thinking it may help me but unfortunately it didn't. Everyone's experiences are different... I work with someone who doesn't wash enough and brings a horrible stale stench in with her. On top of that she doesn't let anyone else speak and she has an incredibly loud voice even when speaking to someone right next to her. I'm happy to say I don't see these traits in myself so I'll have to look elsewhere for guidance.
I don't like 2 people I work with. I think they are just evil people. Not just to me, but hateful to others. I stay away as much as possible, but still have to deal with their attitudes, as we have to work closely at times. This approach may work for this individual, but my situation is different. That won't work. I don't know what to do.
Interesting! Grin and bear it! I can relate. :D
Quite unproductively contradictory approach. The qualities you did not like in yourself were found in Jeff too. Instead of correcting yourself or influencing Jeff, the ego and self-love goes on to accepting Jeff's evil part. Also it seems so important for your corporate world to perform at meetings that you are willing to sell your soul for it. This is not at all a happy ending of the triumph of good over evil... This is actually a sad story of Peter embraces bad to stay in fools paradise.
Good points to consider, however one may find after assessment, that some folks manipulate, lie, cheat, steal and "use" others for their gain. I would caution that these folks are basically harmful, even dangerous, and one needs to move away from these relationships. We have discernment for good reason; a protective device that needs to be listened to.
I have to partially disagree. When I think of people I actively dislike (and there are few), it's because of their behaviour which is completely alien to what I would do. For example, a particular karaoke host that regularly refuses to play my song, even though he plays everyone else's - I would NEVER treat anyone that way. I don't understand it, so I don't like it. Ditto an annoying ex- co worker who was arrogant and condescending, something I've never been in the workplace - even when I was placed in charge of others. The people who irritate me, sure, they have annoying qualities I can see in myself. But the people I truly dislike? No.
Our thoughts, feelings, and actions are totally our responsibility.. And I always love techniques for helping to add perspective! Especially ones that lead to compassion and understanding.. But, I must say that there's another side to the coin. I think having compassion for others is always good.. But as someone who tends to have an abundance of compassion for others, I would add that it's very important to know yourself and what behaviors, treatment, etc you accept and what you don't accept. I relate a lot to what Louise said.. about thinking that if you did everything "right" and always had compassion for others, and the right perspective, etc.. everything would be okay.. But it's not true. We can live through anything and take the perspective we want, but it's not my fault if someone says something cruel or is abusive in some way. I think this is especially hard for females, who are taught to be compassionate and to ignore anger. Treating yourself the way you want to be treating, not lowering yourself for anyone, and treating others respectfully is the key. If someone crosses one of your boundaries, it's important to address it, to set limits and respond accordingly. Everyone is truly amazing. And, treating them with respect, hopefully we will be able to relate and get along. If not, you've done what you can do. Sometimes people just take time to understand each other.. In the mean time, do what is good for you and others.. And hopefully they'll be a chance to connect down the line ;)
[Hide Full Comment]Generally people get angry with people who violate their personal set of rules. The catch is most people don't know what their personal rules are until someone else breaks them!
I think its great!!! GO jeff
I spent a lot of time and emotional energy taking this approach and I think that it can be quite harmful as a first step. You can end up thinking that all the negative experiences of relationship that you have is due to you and if only you could fix yourself things would be OK.
My first question now is, 'What do other people think of Jeff?' - if other people think that Jeff is a pain then perhaps he is and perhaps it is about grinning and bearing it if you have to work with him. If other people who have a similar relationship with Jeff like him then I will look to myself. But because we are often playing out problems from our family's past it may be that Jeff is OK with some people e.g. men rather than women or vice versa; bosses but not peers; or older or younger people. So it is important to see whether he is different with different people.
There are some people who are toxic - poisoning relationships in one sphere of their life or all spheres - I just get out of their way; there are some people who are very controlling - depending on what relationship I have with them I try to work with them; and there are my favourites - the passive aggressive people who think that they are very sweet and lovely but are skilled at making people feel bad/act badly. I would really hard to keep in adult and plan to steer clear of them in the future.
This is not about whether we can get on with people but about choosing to work with people who have a positive personality which brings value to your relationship with them. Sometimes it really is their problem.
[Hide Full Comment]Very well explained. I was talking with a friend at work about this very concept the other day and reading this reminds me once again that the HARD PART of that process is finding the reflection within myself.
The example that comes immediately to mind is that I have, for most of my life, taken a firm stance against prejudice of any kind (sometimes with amusing results.) On a particular notable occasion, I found myself "sounding off" to a friend about a mutual acquaintance who was, in my eyes, extremely narrow-minded and prejudiced and absolutely certain that HIS way of thinking was the ONLY RIGHT WAY and was being quite crude and insulting about people who thought another way. Well, I was totally frosted! And was, I confess, ranting about his belief that his way is the only right way and how can he possibly BE that way and why can't he understand that everyone has the right to believe and behave as....
And then I heard what I was saying. I was saying that HIS way of thinking was not okay and HE was not okay because he should think like I think. In other words, I finally found the mirror.
Finding the mirror doesn't mean that I agreed to adopt his stance. No, I'm still extremely prejudiced against prejudice. But I saw him in myself and I saw myself in him and was able to accept us both more fully as the imperfect and lovable "works in progress" that we are. It gave me two gifts. I got a better understanding of a part of myself I had never seen, loved or integrated. And it let me stop wanting to strangle him!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
[Hide Full Comment]I think this theory is sometimes true, but more often than not when we don't like someone it's because we are allowing ourselves to take on what they are projecting. If someone is mean and egocentric their goal will be to force everyone around them to feel the inadequacies they don't want to accept in themselves. If you take this projection on you will definitely feel angry and frustrated because you won't like the way it feels. It's not yours to own! As a therapist, I have to tolerate these kinds of projections all the time to get to the real underlying issue in the person.
Hm. What if you don't share the specific offending trait? I know someone who is cold hearted, and I don't like this person because of it. I am not a cold hearted person.
Thank you... boy did I need some perspective. This hit the nail on the head.
Interesting. There are really several interlinked issues here: 1. dealing with someone you don't like; 2. Defining the characteristics of why you don't like someone; 3. determining if there can be a way to have a productive working relationship with someone who has characteristics you don't like. Sometimes there are people who have characteristics that are so unalterable and so disruptive that the best thing to do is get rid of that person or find a way to get away from that person. Sometimes the things you don't like in that person have nothing to do with you having the same personal characteristics. I call these people assholes. There is a great idea in business theory called the No Asshole Rule which was later written into a book - http://www.amazon.com/The-A...
Since I own my own business, I often am meeting assholes who are new to me. In general, I choose not to take their business or, in some cases (like if they are only an asshole some of the time), I charge them more money than I'd charge someone else because they are going to take up more of my time. Sometimes you have a new client who reveals himself to be an asshole over time. The best thing to do in these cases is to finish the contract and don't do anymore work with the asshole.
Aside from assholes, there are sometimes people who you like but who have some characteristics that make them difficult to work with. The key here is to asses if this person has a core competency that you need, that will help you accomplish what you need to. If they do, then you make a decision to work with the person and find new/different ways for getting the project with this person to work.
Overall, the best rule of thumb is to assess whether the person in question has something of importance to bring to the table. Then assess whether the positive thing outweighs the negative thing. If the person brings more positive than negative, then figure out a way to make it work. However, if the person brings more negative than positive, cut your losses right away. Sometimes there is a case where the balance is equal. In these cases, I sometimes decide to take on trial project with the person to see if we can find a way to work together. If the project goes well, then we may move on to future projects. If it does not go well, we part ways professionally and respectably. I tell these clients this straight up at the beginning and I even put in what I call a "30-day out" clause. Either party can cancel the project at any time as long as they give 30 day notice.
[Hide Full Comment]I have long considered Matthew 7:3-5 to be the best verses of the Bible.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
So he decided those disgusting qualities were good things instead and that he should love himself more? How egotistical and self-serving! I hope you're satisfied....in yourself.
At the end of the day this fool learned nothing.
I totally agree with we are mirror image of others. I find one person dismissive. On reflection I find I have the same trait.
My father has a great number of expressions and the one that comes to mind as I read this is, "You hate in others that which you dislike in yourself."