Dealing with Pessimists in Business
- Do your business partners, colleagues, team, associates or customers always look for problems and what could go wrong?
- Is your spirit being quashed by other peoples’ negativity?
- Are your ideas shot down before you have a chance to even explain them?
- Would you like to be more effective in dealing with pessimists in business?
Problems and Solutions
Some people have a natural ability to find a solution to any challenge or problem, while others automatically see the downside to everything. The solution focused business partner, colleague, associate or customer may be perceived as too much of an optimist, and seeing the world through rose coloured glasses. Meanwhile, the problem focused business partner, colleague, associate or customer may be perceived as being too negative, doom and gloom and pessimistic.
It is simply a matter of how different people view the world, and how our brain is wired up. Rather than seeing the opposite style to yours as good or bad, see it as different and learn how to work with the different style to better engage your business partner, colleague, associate or customer in your ideas and communication.
Generating Solutions
Business partners, colleagues, teams, associates or customers who are naturally solution focused respond well to and are motivated by:
- Goals to pursue
- What could go right
- Solutions and positive outcomes to strive for.
Their preference for solutions will be reflected in their communication. For example, they will say things like:
- Let’s discuss how we can achieve our business goals and targets
- How can we find a solution on this project?
Considering Consequences
Business partners, colleagues, teams, associates or customers who are naturally problem focused respond well to and are motivated by:
- Problems to avoid
- What could go wrong
- Risks and consequences to consider and avoid
Their preference for avoiding problems will be reflected in their communication. For example, they will say things like:
- We better be careful of spending too much because we don’t want to get into trouble financially
- This strategy is too much trouble and too many things can go wrong.
Beware the Comfort Zone
You have your own natural preference in how you are motivated and how you communicate with other people. Beware of staying in your comfort zone, and only using your natural preference in communicating with others if their preference is different to yours. This is a sure fire way to demotivate and disengage others, which can result in disagreements and arguments; and it is a common challenge I come across when working with individuals, teams and leaders in business.
Instead, carefully listen and pay attention to the words your business partner, colleagues, associates, team and customers use. Are they mainly solution or problem focused? Then be flexible and adapt to their style by using the appropriate words when communicating with them to achieve your outcome. Notice the greater harmony and understanding that this leads to in your business relationships, and how it improves your business success.
How to get the best performance from yourself and your team!
Dr. Vesna Grubacevic is the founder and Performance Transformation Expert® with multi award-winning company, Qt. She is an NLP, Hypnotherapy and Qt respect i® Trainer, holds a PhD and a BEc, and has over 39 years’ business experience, including running her own successful company since 2000. Also the creator of advanced breakthrough behavioural change techniques, Dr. Vesna is the author of Stop Sabotaging Your Confidence book, co-author of Game Changers: Innovation in Business book, media commentator, sought after speaker, and empowers aspiring and existing business owners to achieve exceptional success.
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