posted May 20, 2008
) Front row, left to right, Beth Galloway, Mountain Management Services; Sheila Ricketts, Orange Grove Center; Nancy Eldridge, Orange Grove Center; Gail Walker, Orange Grove Center. Back row, left to right, Phillissia Hambright, Chattanooga Housing Authority; Tim Booth, Alexian Village; Cynthia Williams, Memorial Health Care System; Lynn Porter, Orange Grove Center; Bev Witt, Orange Grove Center; Terrie Johnson, Orange Grove Center. |
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and AccessOne, a local employee assistance provider and division of the Partnership, invited corporate clients to send their staff to the workshop to develop strategies for successfully interacting with difficult people.
“Nothing can jeopardize the effectiveness of a team faster than the inability to work together. Dealing with difficult people takes special skills and basic emotional intelligence that employees are not always initially equipped with," said EAP Specialist Lynn Wilkes.
Local companies like Alexian Village, Memorial Health Care System, Orange Grove Center, Chattanooga Housing Authority and others sent representatives to the workshop, topping out registration at 50 participants.
“Conflict at work can interfere with production, disrupt working relationships and even result in performance problems that can be detrimental to a company," said Mrs. Wilkes.
The session was led by John Morrison, senior clinician for the Partnership’s Center for Family Services. Mr. Morrison led participants through an interactive discussion of the psychology behind difficult behavior, a three-step approach to dealing with difficult individuals and situations, and designing a personal action plan for managing difficult people.
“Many people experience intimidation, frustration or impatience when dealing with difficult people, and these feelings can cloud an individual’s judgment and cause them to react in a manner that only makes the situation worse," said Mr. Morrison.
Participants were given tips for dealing with difficult people:
-Do try to monitor your own responses and make positive behavior decisions. Don’t take their behavior personally.
-Do not allow abusive behavior to develop; involve a mediator if necessary.
-Don’t sink to their level by participating in a “tug-o-war” of one-upmanship. Difficult people are “pros” at this type of behavior.
-Do utilize positive thinking and support from others to remain calm; relying on your strengths and skills.
AccessOne is a division of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults and has been offering employee assistance program to local and national companies since 1981.
Services are available to companies, their employees and immediate family members and include access to confidential counseling services, budget and financial counseling, legal consultation, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and ongoing training. Skill-building workshops are offered quarterly to companies contracting with AccessOne.
To learn more, call 800 568-6294.
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