Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People - by Renee Evenson (Paperback)

About the Book

Difficult personalities at work are unavoidable. But the problems that can result from them are not.

Book Synopsis

How to Manage Work Relationships in a Constructive Way that Leads to Success.

Learning how to maintain strong, harmonious work relationships is essential. Unfortunately, at some point in your career, you'll have to work with people whose personalities or habits make every interaction with them a trial.

Communications expert Renee Evenson has written the definitive phrasebook on how to confront the situations that can arise when dealing with difficult personalities and bring about a positive outcome. Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People is packed with practical and easy-to-use tactics such as:

• 325 powerful phrases to communicate effectively, as well as powerful actions to take in support of those phrases.
• 30 common personality traits, behaviors, and workplace scenarios along with the phrases that work best with each.
• Nonverbal communication actions to back up your words.
• Sample dialogues that demonstrate how phrasing improves interactions.
• A five-step process for moving from conflict to resolution.
• "Why This Works" sections that provide detailed explanations.

Often, an employee who can interact well with others and feels comfortable handling conflict will be promoted over an employee who possesses greater job or technical knowledge. From egotistical bosses to meeting monopolizers, you'll learn how to develop the skills to handle any type of conflict with anyone.

From the Back Cover

It's not the work that's so hard--it's the people. The micromanaging control freak. The boss who takes credit for everything. The coworker who regularly strolls in late and takes leisurely breaks.

There's no escaping problematic personalities. And there's no point fighting or letting tensions simmer. Instead, learn to build positive, productive relationships with everyone in your workplace--and put your career on an unstoppable upward trajectory.

Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People is an all-in-one trouble-shooting guide for resolving any kind of conflict with your boss or coworkers. Organized for quick lookup, the book helps you identify situations that push your emotional buttons. It offers powerful tools for defusing potentially explosive situations, including:

- 325 phrases that lead to constructive conflict-resolution conversations

- 20 challenging coworker behaviors, with specific phrases and actions for dealing with each

- 10 difficult boss personality types, with guidelines for working through problems with each

- Tips for recovering from blunders you may have caused yourself

- A five-step process for turning bad situations into positive ones

- Nonverbal communication skills to back up your words

- "I" phrases, phrases of apology, phrases of compromise, and other useful words for building relationships

- "Why This Works" and "Something to Think About" sections that clarify tactics

Don't get bogged down by people who are incompetent, hog the spotlight, whine, backstab, avoid work, or create other problems. You can interact effectively with even the most challenging people by using these pithy, powerful solutions for quickly resolving workplace strife.

Renée Evenson is a small-business consultant specializing in workplace communication and conflict-resolution strategies. Her previous books include Powerful Phrases for Effective Customer Service and Customer Service Training 101. She lives in Saint Simons Island, Georgia.

Review Quotes

"Her [the author's] book offers readers great tips for handling difficult personalities using specific verbal and nonverbal communication in combination with a five-step conflict-resolution formula." --Retailing Insight

"Isn't workplace harmony worth a try? Wouldn't you rather have truce than trouble? If the answer to those questions is affirmative, then grab this book." --Houston Style Magazine