How to Work with Just about Anyone: A 3-Step Solution for Getting Difficult People to Change

The staff member who is always late to meetings...the co-worker who constantly complains...the boss who blows up at everyone. Every workplace has at least one person who drives other people crazy. Drawing on forty years of research conducted by the Mental Research Institute of Palo Alto and her own extensive experience as a management consultant, Lucy Gill explains what works -- and what doesn't -- when dealing with problems that undermine a productive, conflict-free workplace atmosphere. Gill exposes the futility of common practices -- like repeated warnings, threats, and heartfelt attempts to persuade someone to perform a specific task -- and replaces them with effective solutions. Her simple, three step strategy teaches readers how to: -- Get to the heart of the matter by focusing on what the actual problem is -- Determine what problem-solving methods to avoid so you don't perpetuate the problem -- Choose a different (and often surprising approach that will solve the problem and keep it solved This book is full of anecdotes that will resonant with all office workers, whether they toil in the mail room or along the executive corridor.

Review :
Dr. Richard Fisch director and principal investigator of the Brief Therapy Center at MRI, in Palo Alto, CA This book is a little gem. It's deceptive in its simplicity. Lucy Gill has managed to translate very new thinking about complicated problems into language that allows the reader to apply the concepts practically in the business world, and be light-years ahead. Jim Kouzes coauthor, "The Leadership Challenge;" and Chairman, The Tom Peters Group/Learning Systems Delivers on its promise. You'll wish you followed Lucy Gill's three-step process years ago! Keith Irwin managing partner, Tanner-Irwin Management consultants This book is a barnburner: with concise, clear examples, simple steps, and no clutter or jargon. Don't let this book get buried on your "self-help" shelf. Paul Watzlawick emeritus clinical professor, Stanford University; member of the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA Anyone who's ever worked with a frustrating person should read this book. Step by step, Lucy Gill shows how to get even "impossible" people to change. Robert M. Bramson, Ph.D. author of the bestselling "Coping with Difficult People" The methods in this book are unique. It is not a book about how to improve yourself of get along better with others. It is about how to get all those difficult people in your life to be more cooperative. I have used Lucy Gill's model with my clients and it works. Roland Chazal industrial vice-president, Perrier Vittel, France With humor and subtlety, Lucy Gill offers a practical method for addressing difficult problems and for successfully getting people to change, and gives you the tools and the confidence to find solutions. Using her methods, we effectively and efficiently resolved very tough conflicts in our company. Steven Brown former president of 800-Software Lucy Gill worked as a consultant in my company and produced great results. She used her methods very productively for us, and I am glad she has written "How to Work with Just About anyone." Her humorous and conversational style is like having her in my office again, kicking ideas around. This is a great book.