How to Get Along With Anyone
Relationships can be difficult. We have to deal with people at work, at home, whilst shopping and during leisure activities. Everywhere we go we have dealings with people and if we don’t like them, then problems will occur.
Working Relationships
Relationships can be at their trickiest in the work place. We’ve all experienced situations where two people are at each other’s throats and expect everyone else to take sides, or where there’s gossip and back-biting. Offices are famous for this! Sometimes you have to work with someone you cannot stand. You’re cooped up with this person for eight hours a day, five days a week and after a while, this starts to take it’s toll upon you.
You feel stressed or reluctant to go to work and will probably be uncooperative towards your nemesis. If your relationship deteriorates into actual hostility, then it won’t be very productive to your employer or to you.
Search and Rescue
Once a relationship breaks down then it’s very difficult to rescue it, so it’s best to try and avoid conflict in the first place. A good trick to help you get along with people is to try and find something positive about every person you meet. Even if someone seems irredeemably horrible, there’ll be something good about them. Maybe they’re reliable, get things done, tell a funny joke, or always know the latest news. Even the fact that they’re nice to their family could be enough to make you feel a bit more kindly towards them!
Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?
After all, noone is one hundred per cent bad or one hundred per cent good. Although, you’ll find this hard to believe if you only concentrate upon their bad points. Make a conscious decision to like everyone you meet. Everyone can spot a fake smile, but by focusing on a nice quality whilst you’re dealing with people, it’ll be much easier to be friendly. They’ll respond favourably to your positive manner and conflict is much less likely to develop. There’s a really good section in Guy Kawasaki’s book ‘Enchantment’ (affiliate link) about fake and genuine smiles, which I highly recommend.
Sexist and Whiny
Everyone is different and operates by different personal rules and standards. If your own rules are too rigid then you’ll be constantly offended and upset by the people around you. Make a conscious decision to relax your rules slightly, be a bit more laid back and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. You don’t need to socialise with awkward people or seek them out unnecessarily, but by concentrating on their good qualities in your essential dealings with them, you’ll feel better.
You may meet someone who is arrogant, selfish, boring, sexist or whiny, but focus on their good points, even if you need a magnifying glass to find them!. You’ll tolerate them better and eventually, you may even surprise yourself and end up liking them!
