Customer Reviews

Dealing with Difficult People

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was written over twenty years ago, and was quite popular for a time. I guess it "fell off the radar" for a while.

I was having some trouble working with people at my job, and a colleague recommended this book to me. It's still in print and available, thank goodness.

It offers straight, simple, down-to-earth advice about how people are as "difficult" as we might choose to define them. It is, knowingly or not, a great foundation and framework for an organization's diversity strategy. People are simply different. If we observe and respect these differences, and adjust our expectations accordingly, suddenly managing interpersonal conflict becomes easy.

Have a lot of fun using some of the practical suggestions in this great little book. Highly recommended...

Hmm. Perhaps I was not in the correct mind set to read this. Perhaps I have read too many of this genre before and I am all maxed out - but the first half was a laborious read. Nothing snappy, notable, interesting or magnetic about the writing style, that's for sure. And instructive books DON'T have to be boring in writing style.

Some of the pscychology-based concepts were interesting, but there was nothing here that hooked me, drew me in, educated or inspired me. No "aha" moments - not a one.

And when I got to the part where Mr Keating ascribes difficult childhood behaviour to the parent, well, I'm sorry... this is when I had to put it down, and I'm afraid I haven't picked it up again. I was looking for enlightenment in a psychological sense, not subective opinion on parenting issues. Monsieur Spock, he is Not.

Overall, this was just average to me. I'll try it again in a year, but I do have a feeling that the spine of this book is going to remain pristine.

I bought this book because I work with a really controlling, direspectful, condescending girl. The book gave examples of behavior types, good advice for dealing with difficult bosses, really does what all the other books do and has you take a look at yourself and your behavior too. It gives good end of section summaries, "what to do and what not to do"'s. I would write some of these things down, and I am trying to formulate a little list of things I can use in the hypnosis class I am taking. BUT, when it came right down to dealing with my toxic co-worker, I found that there are a few other books that hit the nail right on the head a little better then this one did. I guess I got the benefit of taking a look at my manager's behavior in the process, and helped me see a little bit of her stylings and ways to deal with them. She is the kind of boss who is very receptive to your wants, makes lots of promises, and never delivers. She is more focused on being everyone's friend then getting down to business. Hope this helps.

This is a great book! I bought this book to deal with other people; I was in for a surprise with all of my own self-analysis. I am sure that I am a better person after learning so many new positive behavior tools for myself AND how to deal with other people's negative personalities! Read it for yourself and see.