Quite by accident,
I developed a rather specific
niche in my coaching practice.
Many – but not all –
(lest you are a client
wondering if I’m talking about you.
I’m not…unless I am)
of my clients
have been labeled “difficult”
by their employers.
See also:
harsh, condescending, critical,
judgmental, righteous, controlling,
ego-driven and more than one
unkind reference to
The Devil Wore Prada.
In contrast, my clients self describe as:
passionate, dedicated, perfectionists
with extremely high standards,
who are woefully misunderstood.
And, guess what?
Employer and employee
are both right.
Because it’s not the truth;
It’s perspective, baby.
As a recovering difficult person,
I have deep empathy for these clients.
No one hungers to be understood
more than I do.
(did I mention a flair for the dramatic
as one of the early warning signs?)
Through coaching,
individuals can learn
the difference between truth & perspective,
gain new tools for effective
communication
and begin to slow down
response time to allow for
more thoughtful interactions.
If you suspect you may be
difficult,
get ye to a good coach.
If you work with or love someone
whom you find difficult,
feel free to leave this blog post
where he/she will see it.