A non fiction review from me for a change and because I have found How to get on with anyone (even the difficult ones) by Catherine Stothart, particulalry useful as I navigate a bit of a career change and working with new people, very useful. I hope my thoughts on the book and why I like it, will be helpful to my readers if they are dealing with some of the things the books aims to help with. I work on the premise that you can’t change others but if you can, change yourself then you can work better and relate better to others, where at all possible.
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Understand yourself and others, build your confidence and streng, then your relationships.
Do you ever feel puzzled about why people behave the way they do? Do you wonder why you connect with some people but conflict with others? Do you sometimes find yourself in uncomfortable or awkward situations,unsure of how to react?
With this practical guide, you’ll discover everything you need to improve your interactions and relationships with anyone,regardless of personality type:
- Understand the four different personality styles and how they work.
- Find out how to flex your style to build rapport with others.
- Learn ways to improve your impact, influence, resilience and leadership skills
Learn how to flex your style of interaction to get on better with other people – how to build rapport, reduce conflict, and develop collaborative relationships with positive outcomes for everyone.
- Relate more successfully to other people, both at work and at home
- Flex your style of interacting with others to suit the individual
- Increase your confidence as a communicator
- Develop your skills as a leader
- Get more out of virtual communication
In the last year or so, I have taken a major step in my career and big changes. I began to train as an independent advocate, working for a local charity and also to become, as the title says “independent” so I can also work for myself again. This has been a slow burn process and has taken a while for me to find my confidence, decide what I want to do and then take the leap, as I move away from some of the things I have been doing, and look at life as my children grow up and what I want and need for my future when they want and need me slightly less.
It’s been challenging but incredibly enjoyable. However, I have realised that I need to work on learning how to navigate difficult or different personalities, and also deal with my own attitude and also personality issues to make me a better leader, advocate, and person who can empower and support the people I work for and with.
I am not usually a fan of the “how to” books, particularly if they are full of corporate speak and the current buzz words but How To Get on With Anyone is easy to read, and doesn’t bamboozle you with jargon or “life coach” nonsense.
It’s practical and helpful. I particularly like that there are self help sections like a workbook, that you can work through, with personal experiences so you can evaluate and understand how your interaction with someone else may or may not have worked and how to do things differently. In my new role and also in the other work I do, I work with many different kinds of people, from higher levels of management in public bodies to people facing life crisis or emergencies and not surprisingly, they are all different and need me to be able to navigate and be able to get on with them, so I can do my job to the best of my ability. I don’t people manage but I do manage different needs, expectations and some of the barriers to being effective in that are broken down in this book. I have found it very useful and insighful and Catherine isn’t patronising and it is very clear she knows what she is talking about and wants you to be able to use her skills and experience too.
If like me, you are working your own confidence in your workplace, or working with people, and you are navigating different styles and personalities, this is definitely a book I would recommend and you can get yourself a copy here*