The Acts Within the Corporate America Circus...

Last night I attended a seminar entitled Managing Difficult People on campus. Part of the perks of this program is the numerous workshops/seminars I can go to.

Well damn it, if only someone would have told me about the freaks in the corporate world. I believe the seminar I took last night should be a requirement for all seniors in school. What I learned last night could have given me the necessary preparation to handle emotional retards at work. Without going into the full workshop, I did list the key points. Perhaps, we’ve all encountered the following “special” people.


Characteristics of Difficult People:


• Black & White Thinking
• Difficulty planning & anticipating consequences
• Faulty “radar” for reading other people’s reactions & motivations.
• Mistaking feelings for facts
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection/criticism
• Denial/lack of self-awareness
• Fuzzy boundaries & intrusiveness
• Low/no capacity for trust
• Low persistence


Ego Drive Employee (Narcissistic):

• Insincere & self absorbed
• People are like furniture-movable & replaceable
• Black & white thinking
• Unrelenting need for adoration
• Calculating decisions & poor judgment
• They typically tend to plot, scheme, manipulate, and can’t handle if you think on your own.
• They are usually in high-level positions within government & business.
• Aging is also more difficult for narcissistic people.
• 3 of 4 are men
• 1 in 100 people are narcissist

Strategies for dealing with Narcissistic:

• Think Gray
• Accept BUT verify
• “Criticism Sandwich” (1 compliment, 1 non personal criticism, 1 compliment)
• Be Calm
• Motivate through self-interest (feed ego)
• CYA emails
• Take threats against others seriously


Needs Driven Employee:

• Black & White Thinking
• Helplessness
• Hopelessness
• Catastrophic expectation (the sky is always falling)
• Need for constant contact & reassurance
• Impulsive decisions & poor judgment
• 3 of 4 are women
• Have a family history of abuse and/or substance abuse, anxiety disorder.

Strategies for Borderlines:

• Think Gray
• Build trust, be firm & consistent
• Insist on civil, professional behavior at work
• Be calm, avoid surprises
• Avoid threats of termination
• Call mental health professional if needed