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Johan Cruijff, not the easiest one
Johan Cruijff is one of the best footballers of all time. No one else understood the game as well as he did. He was praised for his technique, speed and insight. But he also often knew better, came up with countless unsolicited pieces of advice, and told his fellow players what to do.
Cruijff flourished when working with trainers who could handle that behaviour. He formed a magical combination with trainer Rinus Michels in his early years at FC Barcelona. But in 1975, when Michels was replaced by Hennes Weisweiler, the team’s performance immediately dropped. Weisweiler did not know how to deal with star players, and there was friction between him and Cruijff from the start. One year later, when Cruijff’s contract expired, he stated that he only wanted to stay if Michels would return. And so it happened.
Cruijff was not the easiest person to work with, but in the right context, he created magic.
Dealing with difficult colleagues
In every workplace, you have those people who get on your nerves. According to numerous studies, collaborating with difficult colleagues is one of the most challenging things at work. If you don’t take action, the situation worsens and can quickly lead to conflicts. So, it is about time to see the positive sides of ‘difficult behaviours’.
Eight annoying types in the workplace
#1: The 'yes-but...' -er
Always brings objections to the table (“Yes, but …”) and never goes with the flow. These employees are fantastic when you implement something big, such as an IT system or a process change, because they will help you map out all the potential risks. Knowing upfront why your project could fail allows you to prevent these things from happening and saves you a lot of rework and frustration.
#2: The 'yes, and...' -er
Just when you are working towards a decision, this person opens up the idea space again with “Yes, and ….”. These types are ideal for brainstorming because the flow of ideas never stops, but keep them far away when you start implementing projects because otherwise, you will never meet a deadline.
#3: The control freak
Wants to know everything and is always all over it. These types can be incredibly annoying when they start interfering with your work, but they are ideal for leading the implementation of a change. They keep a close eye on the process so nothing will be overlooked and ensure that deadlines are met.
#4: The perseverer
Gets their teeth into something and won’t let go until the task finishes. This steadfastness is sometimes confused with stubbornness, but it ensures that everyone is constantly on their toes and that the team doesn’t get off track, even when things get tough.
#5: The go-getter
Gets into action before it is clear what exactly needs to be done. That can be counterproductive and lead to much extra work, but this person is worth their weight in gold. When the actions are clear, this person has fixed them before you know it. And when you work on something new or innovative, you will learn much more by doing than talking.
#6: The complainer
Whines about everything that is not going well but never comes up with solutions. Puts a damper on the team’s morale but is also a fantastic ‘bullshit spotter’. With their sharp eye for unnecessary rules or incomprehensible procedures, these people know better than anyone how to put their finger on the weak spots.
#7: The know-it-all
Often corrects others and seems to have an answer for everything. Be honest, most of the time, they do have a point but present it clumsily. In the past, they were often ignored and became grumpy. See-through their cynicism and listen to them. They usually have good ideas that you can use or build upon. Let the know-it-all work with the go-getter and the complainer, and the bureaucracy will disappear like snow in the sun.
#8: Huey, Dewey and Louie
A clique that always sits together and often makes jokes. They are so strongly bonded that it is hard for outsiders to get involved with them. However, when push comes to shove and things get tough, they are loyal and propose creative solutions. They are ideal for implementing a change because their ingenuity leads to better solutions, and their humour makes it fun.
Embrace diversity
Don’t label behaviour as difficult too quickly, but rather reflect the positive aspects of certain behaviours. Once you see, you will also better understand why things went wrong in the past and how you can make your team fly. In fact, if you’re missing one of these types on your team, get them on board right away!
This article was originally published in Dutch on MT/Sprout, the most popular business and management platform in the Netherlands.
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