Nonfiction: Personality Plus At Work:
How to Work Successfully with Anyone(1)
Author: Florence Littauer and Rose Sweet
***** From The Book Jacket (ZT)*****
No matter where you work, you're going to have co-workers
you get along with and those you could get along without.
But did you know that you hold the key to working well
with all of your co-workers? It comes from discovering how
to harness the power of personality.
For 25 years, Florence Littauer's bestselling "Personality
Plus" has been required reading for employees of major
companies. Now, "Personality Plus at Work" shows you how to
work successfully with anyone by paying attention to basic
personality differences. It shows you what happens when
personalities are ignored, how each personality can lead,
and how to combine different personalities to maintain a
vital and harmonious workplace.
Whether you manage a department, work on a job site, or
volunteer at your child's school, the insights found in
this book will revolutionize your relationships on the
job.
PRELUDE
Say Hello to the Cast of Characters
It was a rainy afternoon in April when Rose and I (Florence) walked
into the Loma Linda University library to begin a series of lectures
we called "Personality Plus at Work." The dean, Dr. Hemingway, had
scheduled these classes based on a perceived need of people who
would often complain to him. They would ask, "How can I understand
all these mixed-up people I have to deal with in my workplace?" or,
"When I have the answers, why won't people just do it my way?"
Dr. Hemingway wasn't sure how to handle these questions, until one
evening he met me at a dinner party and began to explain how
frustrated he was.
"People talk to me as if I could prescribe a magical pill they could
take each morning and suddenly be wise. We all know there's no such
thing!" He said.
I smiled. "Well, Dr. Hemingway, there actually 'is' a mystery cure
for personality problems, and I'd love to explain it to you. It
comes from your own profession--from a Greek physician in 400 BC--and
it still works today."
"Really?" he asked.
"You remember Hippocrates? He asked the same questions as you: 'Is
there some way I might understand my patients?' and 'Why don't they
all react the same way to the same instructions?'"
Our discussion got so exciting as we shared back and forth, problem
and solution, that soon others around us were listening and wanting
to hear more. From that conversation came the idea for a sixteen-
week course on "Personality Plus at Work"...and here we were, Rose
and I, walking into a classroom where eight selected people were
waiting for us. Four men and four women--from different corners of
the business world--who needed help with "all those people who are
nothing like me."
Rose and I had been teaching the four personalities as a fun way to
get along with difficult people, but we had never tried it with such
a handpicked group. Dr. Hemingway had invited friends and
professionals alike to prepare for the course by reading my book
"Personality Plus" and by taking the Personality Profile included in
the back of this book. When we arrived for our first session, we
knew the personalities of our eight students and we were ready for
them.
Let's Meet the Group
I started by explaining to the students that Rose and I were both
blends of the Choleric-Sanguine personalities and that as we went
through the course they would understand more about what that meant.
Rose added, "That means we both like to be in charge, but don't
worry--we'll make it fun!"
"Yes," I agreed. "We both like to be in charge." I looked right at
Rose.
"In charge! Right! Yes, Florence is teaching today. You'll have to
wait for me to take over next time!" Rose smiled at the group and
then took a seat in the back of the room. As Sanguines, we have
learned how to work with one another in our teaching assignments. We
enjoy being playful but are always respectful with each other.
After we had introduced ourselves, I asked each student to give
their name and their reason for being here, in order of how they
were sitting. I started with a relaxed young woman with big brown
eyes and dark curly hair.
"I'm Carmen Gonzalez. I'm a teacher at the local high school, and
I'm hoping to understand my pupils better. They're all so different,
and some don't even want to be in school. I read your book,
Florence--'Personality Plus'--and I think I'm 'Melancholy' because I
love to study and I get easily depressed with the antics of these
teenagers!"
Next was a middle-aged lady, somewhat chubby, with bright blue eyes
and an eagerness to tell us who she was. "I'm Darlene Guttenberg,
and I'm here to learn more about my business associates. I'm in
network marketing and I work, work, work all the time. My mind never
seems to shut down!" I knew right away she was 'Choleric.'"
Next at the table was a quiet, unresponsive man who hadn't smiled
yet. "I wouldn't have come here by myself, but my wife, Darlene," he
nodded his head toward the woman next to him, "dragged me here.
That's what she does with me, but I don't mind. My name is Hans.
Hans Guttenberg." I looked over at Rose and we both exchanged a
silent word: "Phlegmatic."
The group seemed confused. Should they feel sorry for Hans being
dragged around or glad that he had Darlene to pep him up?
Next was an eager man who looked as if he'd really enjoyed eating
his whole life. Like Santa Claus, when he laughed his belly shook
like jelly. "I'm Howard Jones. Since I'm in the restaurant business
some people think I'm Howard Johnson! My problem is how to keep the
help. It seems as soon as I get them trained, they leave. I'm sick
of all these flaky people and I hope I can get a few who'll stay. I
read your book, too, Florence, and I'm pretty sure I'm 'Choleric.'"
I'd like being in charge more if any of them would actually listen."
As Fran passed out her promotional material I called on our last
person, a handsome, intelligent-looking--and obviously
wealthy--gentleman.
"I'm Dr. Charles Everett Hastings III. I had no choice. To fulfill the
family legacy I had to become 'the third.' So I attended Phillips
Andover Academy, Harvard, and I have an MD from Princeton." He
paused so we could all let the degrees sink in.
"Why am I here when I'm already overeducated? Because Dr. Hemingway
told me to come, to 'get away from all those intellectual snobs and
spend some time with normal people who don't care about my IQ.' Just
go and be a nice person. I actually learned about Hippocrates in med
school, but I never used it. Thought it was too simple for me. So
here I am--out with ordinary people--but I must admit that listening
to you all, you do seem to be a pleasant group."
By the time the good doctor finished, no one knew what to think.
Should they be insulted? Or should they feel sorry that he was so
out of touch?
I thanked everyone for introducing themselves and then pulled out an
old magazine cover to begin our course, which starts in our next
chapter.
As you read along with us, picture that you, too, have been
specially handpicked and are with us in your seat, ready to go! Soon
these people's problems will relate to yours, and our solutions will
brighten your day. We're glad you're part of our "pleasant group"!
***** About The Author (ZT)*****
Florence Littauer is the bestselling author of more than 40 books,
including "Personality Plus," which has sold more than 1.5 million
copies and has been translated into 30 languages. She speaks
internationally at seminars and retreats and is the president of
CLASS Speakers, Inc. She lives in Nevada.
Rose Sweet is a popular speaker and the author of five books and a
contributor to many more. She lives in California.
|
|
