When I embarked on my month of service, I forgot one VERY important thing – sometimes people are difficult to work with. Sometimes in life we encounter people who see things differently than us. Sometimes, we have to make compromises in order to help people.
Get my drift? Sometimes working with people is HARD! I’m definitely learning this more and more every day that I’m in school or practicum. Remember how I said that we do a ton of group work? Yeah, that isn’t always my favorite thing. People can be difficult.
But you know what? Not a day goes by that we don’t all need to work with other people. How can I ever expect to serve people if I can’t even work with them? Maybe these Kent School professors know what they’re doing after all…
If you know me at all, you know that I am opinionated. I like to be right. I’m impatient, and quick-tempered, and introverted. Not really the recipe for a good social worker! But I have some other qualities too, some qualities that I think WILL make me a good social worker. I can be kind, and smart, and empathetic, and helpful – when I want to be.
So this month of service has really been equally as much about working on myself, as it has been about serving others. Because to truly serve others, we need to be the best version of ourselves possible. And we need to be able to work well with others.
Teamwork, baby. It’s all about being a good teammate.
Good thing I have a little bit of experience in that arena…
Do you struggle with being a good teammate ever? Or in working with difficult people?
I agree that it can be hard to work with others sometimes, especially if they see things differently than you do. I struggle not to want to help them see things my way. I have learned over the years that it is often easier in the long run to keep my mouth closed and just go with the group.
Going with the flow is usually best, but it is still so hard sometimes!!
I did have conflicts with people at work but when I decided to stop being disappointed/frustrated when others didn’t conform to my expectations, it was much better for me! Hah!
Haha that’s a great conscious choice to make!
I always felt that the ability to get along with difficult people can bring you a long way in your career – especially a corporate one. I try not to let people’s personalities effect me, let it roll right off my back.
That’s what my parents keep telling me – hope y’all are right!
I definitely struggle with working with difficult people! Experiencing that right now at my job, good thing we are still on the quarter system and in 6 weeks I won’t have to work with this person again
That’s nice! It’s always easier when you know that the end is in sight
Wow, what a great post! I’m sure you’re doing great; the fact that you’re aware of these difficulties is the biggest step!
Thank you! Yes, baby steps and awareness are key
YES! as much as i really do love working with other people. sometimes i get anxious and just want to do it myself so that I know it gets done on time and how it is expected to be done. i hope that doesn’t sound terrible of me? but i like to have things done early so that if they are wrong there is plenty of time to go back and look at them again…when i am depending on people and they are pushing the quality and the time limit…i stress!
Nope, that’s how I am too! Usually it’s just easier to do it myself. I do have a couple of groups for projects that are really on top of things, so that is nice. But unfortunately, I feel like it isn’t that way most times…