Does Your Coworker Speak a Different Language? How to Build Understanding with Emergenetics®

By Mandy Potts, MBA

Do you ever feel misunderstood?  Do you ever feel like you don’t understand your co-worker?

Here is an example of a typical co-worker conversation that starts simple, but ends in hurt feelings. 

Mandy:  Good morning Melissa.  How was your weekend?
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Melissa:  Fine.  Did you finish the numbers for the KOTO report?  I need them today.

Mandy:  My weekend was great.  We went to the pumpkin patch with the kids and they loved the hay ride…
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Melissa:  (interrupting bluntly)  When will you get the numbers to me?  I need to finish the analysis on the inventory.

Mandy:  (feeling hurt)  I can work on it this morning and get it to you by 10am.

Melissa:  No later than 10am.

Mandy: (now feeling angry) Fine, 10am.
 
How often have you had a version of this conversation?  One person is trying to be social and share the details of her fun weekend, and the other is focused on analyzing a report. One person is feeling hurt because the other one “didn’t care,” and the other person is feeling “annoyed” because she just wants the numbers for the KOTO report to analyze. 

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