Personality clashes in life are inevitable and if you're dealing with this at the moment and don't know what to do, there are some ways to cope. Whether you're at school, college or work, these steps to dealing with a personality clash are sure to help you.
One of the first steps to dealing with a personality clash is to accept that it's inevitable in life. We're not going to get on with everyone all the time and when we dwell on it, it can become more of an issue than it actually is. Accept that we're all different and that we have different ways of seeing the world. It's what makes this world such a magical place!
When you have accepted that personality clashes are inevitable and it's nothing personal, you can work towards a solution. Think it through and work out why there is a personality clash. Are you both trying to work towards the same goal but have a difference of opinion? Is there something about the way they work that irritates you? Sometimes, the things that irritate us say more about ourselves than they do about the other person!
It's important to stay calm in the face of a personality clash. Whether that involves taking some time out or breathing deeply, be sure to remain calm and don't lose your cool as this is when more issues will arise. If they say something that irritates you, try to respond calmly rather than snapping back at them.
Compromise is so important and it's true for both family relationships and work colleagues. Sometimes we need to think about ways we can all be happy. You need to find a way in which you can both work towards the same goal. Think about how you can compromise and use each other's knowledge and expertise to get the job done.
We're more similar than we think and when we accept that fundamentally, we're all after the same goals in life, it can be easier to work through personality clashes. Getting to know the other person can be one of the best ways to work through a personality clash. Have a coffee or lunch together and get to know each other a little better. You might find that you have more in common that you thought.
Team building exercises are used in many corporations, colleges and schools to help people learn how to work together in order to achieve a common goal. This can be one of the best ways to deal with a personality clash and although you might not initially be able to cope with being in the same team as that person, you may find that when you're working towards the same goal, you can look past your differences.
If we think about something all the time, we can actually make things worse for ourselves. I'm sure you have found yourself going home after a hard day at work or college and ranting to the family about someone you just can't stand to be around. I know I have! What I have learnt though, is that although the venting makes me feel good, there is only one person who ends up feeling bitter and twisted by the anger, and that's me! It's not healthy to carry the hate around and it's much better to accept that we're all different, just let it go and move on.
Has anyone else found themselves swimming in the personality-clash pool? How have you coped with it?