How To Handle Personality Clashes

Personality, that idiosyncratic grab bag of behaviors, paroxysms, responses, and opinions! Life would be easier if people came with their own instruction kits detailing their personality traits. This would be especially helpful in workplaces where we have to work with people who just seem to rub us wrong.

Working with or around people with whom we do not get along can have a negative effect on output and even desire to work. These personality clashes, are commonplace but there are a few ways to overcome them. Lets have a look at some.

• Acceptance
  Take people as they are. You should understand that it is possible not to understand why some people do what they do. When you come to this conclusion and accept this, you will be able to deal better.
  

Your relationship with that person will stop being toxic. Do not waste time thinking on the negatives because this would not fix anything. With understanding, the friction would be gone.

• Focus on the Positives
  Look at the strengths of the person who you are finding it hard to get along with. Focus on his/her good deeds and the contributions s/he is making to the family, team,or company. Doing this will help you to view them whole instead of just focusing on the fact that their personality clashes with yours.
  

• Take a look at Yourself
  Take time out to try to understand why you are able to get along with everyone but that one person. Figure out your role and response in the conflict. You will definitely learn something about yourself.
  

• Find the Source
  This is related to the above. The conflict might be work-related and not really an attitude issue.
  The reason can sometimes be really minute. Have a talk with the other person in order to identify the root cause and hopefully, find a solution.
  

• Remain Professional
  If the person bothering you is a co-worker, do not let things degenerate into anything that would be termed unprofessional. Be courteous at all times as you keep trying to come to terms with it to find a lasting solution. You do not necessarily have to befriend him or her before you can have a cordial relationship.
  

• Observe
  Another important thing to do in such a situation is to observe how others handle or deal with this person in question. You will learn more than a bit about the person and how to stave off the conflict that exist between you two.
  

• Get Out of the Way
  Sometimes, the best decision you can make is to stay away from or avoid the person who seems to always get on your nerves. Just avoid.!
  

Personality clashes may be due to a myriad of reasons including workstyle differences. Background differences, gender, ethnicity etc. But its not always the other person who is at fault as you may be the problem. Your way is not always the right way. We do not usually bother to look inward and dissect our own behavior. This is unfair to both ourselves and those around us. So do better by finding out your shortcomings and working on them.

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