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On the Job With Difficult People


Are annoying colleagues putting your patience to the test? Here are some expert tips on how to deal with them


by Rosalind Stefanac illustration by Seth


domineering presence holding court at the head of the table. Bob,* the CEO, had a reputation for “chewing up and spitting out” consultants like Maraj, who had been brought in by the vice-president to coach the team on how to be more effective. Glaring at Maraj across the table, Bob asked in a crusty tone, “Why are we here?” Fortunately, Maraj recognized the boss as a Sherman


T * Not his real name MAY 2015 | CPA MAGAZINE | 41


Tank — a blustering bully who annihilates anyone who dares question him. Maraj, who runs an Edmonton-based consulting firm called Unstoppable Conversations and gives presentations on the topic of difficult people to audiences


HE SILENCE IN THE ROOM WAS PALPABLE. All around the boardroom table, Vik Maraj could see grown men shiſting in their seats and averting eye contact. Clearly, these high- level executives were intimidated by the


around the world, knew being meek or defensive would be fatal to his assignment. Instead, he responded in a level and confident tone, explaining that the apparent fear in the room was negatively affecting decision-making and produc- tivity. The result? Bob wanted to hear more and Maraj ended up working with the team for another 18 months. Most of us have encountered difficult people like Bob in


the workplace — the kind who shout and berate you in front of colleagues, or the kind who won’t let you get a word in edgewise because they’re too busy spouting off on a subject they know everything about. It’s a topic that certainly resonates with CPAs, as evi-


denced by the thousands of people who tuned in on May 15, 2014, to hear CPA Canada’s webinar titled Dealing with Difficult People: Tanks, Clams, Know-It-Alls and More. Since it was first advertised, the webinar has attracted more


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