Working with Someone Who Always Thinks They’re Right

A colleague who always thinks they’re right can be extremely frustrating. There are a few ways to keep the relationship productive and professional. The next time you find yourself in a debate with this person, don’t fight back — escalating an argument won’t change their behavior. Instead, let the conversation come to an end, and then meet with your colleague after you’ve had some time to reflect. Explain how their actions make you feel. You might say: “When we’re on different sides of an issue, you assert your views so strongly that I shut down. It would help me to know that you’re hearing my views too, even if we don’t agree.” Managers should consider how company culture may be contributing to the problem. If your culture prizes certainty or is especially competitive, the person’s behavior is probably to be expected. Help the team dynamic by asking everyone to come to discussions with both pros and cons about the topic. That will ensure no one can cling to one point of view.

Trabajando con alguien que siempre piensa que tiene la razón

Un colega que siempre piensa que tiene la razón puede ser extremadamente frustrante. Hay algunas maneras de mantener la relación productiva y profesional. La próxima vez que te encuentres en un debate con esta persona, no te defiendas: escalar una discusión verbalmente no cambiará su comportamiento. Mejor deja que la conversación termine y luego reúnete con su colega después de que haya tenido tiempo para reflexionar. Explica cómo te hacen sentir sus acciones. Podrías decir: “Cuando tenemos diferencias, afirmas tus puntos de vista con tanta fuerza que me cierro. Me gustaría saber que también estás escuchando mis puntos de vista, incluso cuando no estamos de acuerdo “. Los gerentes deben ser concientes de cómo la cultura de la empresa puede contribuir al problema. Si tu cultura valora la certeza o es especialmente competitiva, es probable que esto explique parte del comportamiento de la persona. Ayuda a la dinámica del equipo pidiéndoles a todos que participen en debates sobre los pros y contras sobre el tema. Esto evitará que las personas se afferren a un punto de vista.

* Source: Harvard Business School’s Management Tip of the Day
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