How Do You “Appreciate” Difficult People at Work?*
Let’s be honest, some people are more difficult to work with than others. There are weird people; angry, irritable colleagues; and people we just don’t understand. And appreciating the
se individuals can be even 
more challenging.
Let me share a few tips on how to communicate appreciation to a “difficult” colleague:
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Don’t try to fake it. Whatever you do, don’t try to “act like” you appreciate someone if you really don’t. Most people have very sensitive “radar” when they believe others aren’t being genuine. You risk undermining any trust you may have with your colleague if they don’t think what you are saying or doing isn’t authentic.
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Do some self-reflection. Think about some potential reasons why you have a hard time appreciating this colleague. What about them don’t you like? What do they do that irritates you? What about them don’t you understand? Are the issues SO big that you can’t think of anything they do that you appreciate? Don’t let some negative characteristics blind you to their strengths.
- Consider characteristics not directly related to work performance. The core component that leads to appreciation is valuing something about the other person. Sometimes, we can value characteristics that aren’t necessarily “productive” but helpful (having a positive, cheerful demeanor; staying calm in stressful situations). Additionally, there are aspects of a person’s life outside of work that we may value — having the self-discipline to train for a half-marathon; a single parent who is deeply committed to their children. Call attention to these characteristics as a start.
- Get to know them a little bit better. Valuing someone is difficult when you don’t really know much about them. Often, finding out some about their personal history enables you to understand them more. And getting to know a bit more about their hobbies and life outside of work can lead to some areas of connection.
Interestingly, most of us have different people who are challenging for each of us. (That is, Stephanie might really grate your nerves while she and I get along fine, but Tracie irritates me by just walking in the room while she creates no struggles for you.) So the issue is really an interaction effect rather than the fact that they are a terrible person.
Even though some people are ogres, in reality, most aren’t. And although you may have a colleague that rubs you the wrong way, resist putting them in the “Don’t Appreciate Them” basket — where the chances are high that you won’t ever say anything positive to them.
Try the tips above and see if you can’t find something you can appreciate them for. (Remember: you may be the “difficult to appreciate” co-worker for some of your colleagues!)
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*See my new book, The Vibrant Workplace, for more on this topic.
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Categories 5 Languages of Appreciation, 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, Appreciation, Authenticity, Blog, employee peer-to-peer recognition, Featured Post, Peer Recognition, Relationships, Teamwork, Toxic leaders, Toxic workplaces, Vibrant Workplace
