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How to Deal with Annoying People: What to Do When You Can't Avoid Them
The world is filled with annoying people, but here is hope and help! Churches, individuals, couples, employees, and managers will benefit from this look at personality styles and close, sometimes conflicted, interaction. Readers will discover why they are annoyed by others, why others are annoyed by them, and what they can do to create fantastic relationships in their lives in chapters such as Readers will find themselves getting along better in both professional and personal relationships as they employ biblical principles along with a fun and simple process of identifying social cues.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
22 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 25, 2019
The first half of this book, which talks about the four social styles and why they react to things the way they do and how they interact, was fascinating. The second half, which is about conflict resolution, was less fascinating. There was also a judgy, preachy overtone to this book that I didn’t like. It sort of felt like the authors were saying if you didn’t have Jesus in your heart you couldn’t be a well-adjusted person who deals well with conflict. Which is baloney.
April 23, 2024
There’s some very annoying people I’ve had to deal with in my lifetime especially those whose names belong to part on a boat or evangaline
December 12, 2024
Just okay. The first have was a comparison/contrast between 4 personality styles that was a bit repetitive and laborious. The second half dealt with conflict resolution which was pretty basic. Overall, I'd give it 2.5 stars.
January 10, 2025
The concept is good. The first 18 chapters (Part 1) could have been done in about 5 chapters and the charts are redundant and repetitive. Part 2 is much more helpful once you have the personality types down.
March 24, 2011
We all have them. Those irritating, annoying people in our lives that make us cringe and grit our teeth when they come around.
So what do you do if you can’t avoid them?
How To Deal With Annoying People may just answer that question!
Written by two friends who have years of professional experience between them, Bob Phillips and Kimberly Alyn share real-life illustrations and examples of how to handle those people in your life who threaten your sanity.
Most interesting to me were the chapters on how to determine your social style and identify the social styles of others. The first step in this process is doing a self-assessment to determine if you are an “asker” or a “teller”. Based on that result, you then figure out if you are task oriented or relationship oriented. Between those two assessments you should be able to figure out your primary and secondary social styles and see how that relates to your interactions with others.
The four basic social styles focused on in this book are: Analytical, Driver, Expressive, and Amiable.
Maybe you’ve heard these personalities expressed another way such as Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholy or Phlegmatic. On page 168 of this book there is a very detailed chart that shows a comparison of commonly used terms to describe the same basic four social styles which is very helpful if you’re accustomed to another term or description.
All of this information is broken down into very digestible sections and not only tells you the strengths of each style, but the weaknesses as well. It also suggests which social styles you are most compatible with, as well as which social styles are mostly likely to irritate you.
I really like that the authors write chapters on how to lead, follow, and sell to each personality type. This could clear up a lot of misunderstandings between bosses and employees, coworkers, spouses and even friends and family. There are also chapters on how to confront conflict based on which personality you are dealing with.
Anyone interested in improving his or her relationships should definitely read this book. It is full of interesting information from cover to cover and is one of those books you’ll want to make a permanent part of your library.
So what do you do if you can’t avoid them?
How To Deal With Annoying People may just answer that question!
Written by two friends who have years of professional experience between them, Bob Phillips and Kimberly Alyn share real-life illustrations and examples of how to handle those people in your life who threaten your sanity.
Most interesting to me were the chapters on how to determine your social style and identify the social styles of others. The first step in this process is doing a self-assessment to determine if you are an “asker” or a “teller”. Based on that result, you then figure out if you are task oriented or relationship oriented. Between those two assessments you should be able to figure out your primary and secondary social styles and see how that relates to your interactions with others.
The four basic social styles focused on in this book are: Analytical, Driver, Expressive, and Amiable.
Maybe you’ve heard these personalities expressed another way such as Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholy or Phlegmatic. On page 168 of this book there is a very detailed chart that shows a comparison of commonly used terms to describe the same basic four social styles which is very helpful if you’re accustomed to another term or description.
All of this information is broken down into very digestible sections and not only tells you the strengths of each style, but the weaknesses as well. It also suggests which social styles you are most compatible with, as well as which social styles are mostly likely to irritate you.
I really like that the authors write chapters on how to lead, follow, and sell to each personality type. This could clear up a lot of misunderstandings between bosses and employees, coworkers, spouses and even friends and family. There are also chapters on how to confront conflict based on which personality you are dealing with.
Anyone interested in improving his or her relationships should definitely read this book. It is full of interesting information from cover to cover and is one of those books you’ll want to make a permanent part of your library.
August 27, 2012
Excellent Book. Two main parts, both great - Understanding personality differences & dealing with conflict.
The personality terms are easy to understand, though I do miss the fun of the animal names. I also think the personality test could have been better, but it brings a good perspective on how the personalities relate (ask/tell and task/people) and gives you enough practice identifying types that you could just as easily guess your personality by the end. Secondary personality and strength of 3rd and 4th could really benefit from a better testing format, but I think the format they use is great for your primary.
Conflict resolution is great and brought in many concepts I had heard in the past.
Part 1 is basically a rewrite of The delicate art of dancing with Porcupines, but is ordered and worded a little better in this book, and includes some new sections.
The personality terms are easy to understand, though I do miss the fun of the animal names. I also think the personality test could have been better, but it brings a good perspective on how the personalities relate (ask/tell and task/people) and gives you enough practice identifying types that you could just as easily guess your personality by the end. Secondary personality and strength of 3rd and 4th could really benefit from a better testing format, but I think the format they use is great for your primary.
Conflict resolution is great and brought in many concepts I had heard in the past.
Part 1 is basically a rewrite of The delicate art of dancing with Porcupines, but is ordered and worded a little better in this book, and includes some new sections.
April 9, 2010
This is a very helpful book that allows you to categorize others (and even more interesting, understand yourself a little better) as to the type of personality they have and how they react to situations. Anecdotal evidence is shared and the ultimate goal (achievable, if you really believe in it) is to deal with the people around you every day with facility. There is a Christian thread throughout the book which may or may not be helpful to you personally, but the advice is extremely useful in terms of conflict resolution and simply seeing things through the eyes of those with whom you may have little in common.
April 4, 2011
This book is good in theory. It's actually quite spiritual and might not be appropriate for everyone.
September 12, 2011
Loved this book!
March 12, 2012
This is a REALLY great book if you have alot of annoying people around you. No seriously this is an EXTREMELY good book!!!!!!!!!!! (It might even be my favourite.)
August 6, 2013
how to deal with annoying people? the anwser is in the bible... love your neighbour etc... this is what this book will tell you...
February 18, 2016
Remember, other people are never the problem!
Its always you, and your awful personality.
Its always you, and your awful personality.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews