IN last week's article, I wrote about diagnosing "difficultness" in individuals within your organisation or business universe, and how to ascertain the manner and nature in which a person's difficult nature will manifest.
Realising a person is difficult and appreciating how they are going to be difficult in their dealings with you is very useful, and for most people, it's a solution that they need. How do I deal with this difficult person's "difficultness"? In the modern application of metaphysics, especially BaZi, we are interested in solutions and not just diagnosis or hypothesis.
Typically the solution for dealing with any one of the five types of extreme variants lies in either diffusing their difficult nature appropriately or making more effective use of their difficultness.
However, it's also important to appreciate that the nature of the solution depends on whether the person you have to deal with is in a superior position, that is someone who holds the purse strings or is more powerful or influential such as a customer or shareholder, or in an inferior position, that is a member of staff or a supplier.
Dealing with the Extreme Wealth Profile: Don't take anything personally. Ironically, Extreme Wealth types are very good at drawing a clear line between work and personal matters. So do the same when dealing with them. Don't fight their need to lead forcefully. Let them take the lead, but make sure they understand that leadership is followed by the words "by example". Give them a mandate, and let them run with it. Or put them in charge of people who need to be whipped into shape or a department that needs micro-managing.
Dealing with the Extreme Output Profile: You need to be prepared for debate, and being prepared to defend your point of view for a prolonged period. Come to discussions well prepared as that's the only way to shut them down. Remember, they only bow to someone who knows more than they do or who they respect because the person is clearly an authority on the matter. Avoid group sessions or group meetings, and go for one-on-one casual chats, if you plan to shoot down their ideas. This lets them save face, and it keeps them on your side.
Dealing with the Extreme Resource Profile: Always have an action plan, an agenda, and control discussions or meetings to stop them from wandering or branching off into long, rambling discussions. Force responsibility, commitment and decisions through legal documents, emails, contracts, agendas, time-lines, deadlines and paper trails. Don't expect them to be organised, so you will need to be doubly organised (or hire them a good assistant). Be prepared for a long trek in getting a decision. If you want to cut short the process, do their homework for them so that they don't have to waste time on "research".
Dealing with the Extreme Influence Profile: Whatever you do, don't force their hand. Indeed, it is best not to expect too much from such a person. As they are often respectful of the rules to a fault, you can get your way as long as you can cite line, chapter and verse on why something should be done a certain way. It is also important not to upset the apple cart with these individuals in the form of last-minute changes or alterations to the gameplan or they will prove to be very difficult to handle, and will perform even more poorly.
Dealing with Extreme Companion Profile: It's critical to enforce responsibility, set limits, demand accountability, and most importantly, say no. Always deal with the person in private as they are often emboldened when in a group. Take everything they say with a pinch of salt and always ask for a commitment in writing.
Focus on the facts, and make sure they focus on the facts. Be cautious of their attempts to use emotional arguments rather than logical ones and walk away when they attempt to invoke emotions or sentimentality rather than the cold hard facts. Do not give in to their tendencies to bring their mood swings to the workplace. Make it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable.
To find your BaZi Profile, go to http://www.baziprofiling.com and try out our BaZi Profiler.
Joey Yap is an expert in Chinese astrology services and audits, classical feng shui, BaZi, Mian Xiang and other Chinese metaphysics subjects. He can be reached via Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoeyYapFB.
This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, September 6 2010.
|