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Comment by EpicEng

7 years ago

Disagree with the first sentence, agree with the second. How precisely is "Disagreeability... a form of taking"?

6 comments

EpicEng

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kemiller  7 years ago

It’s loading emotional work onto the people around you. A well-functioning team takes work to maintain and the grumps not only don’t do their share but are often a burden besides.

  • EpicEng  7 years ago

    But what's the net result?

    I have an employee who easily fits into the grouch/giver category. Yeah, he can be a pain, but often his complaints/attitude stem from the fact that he actually cares about what we do and how we do it.

    It does require my time to smooth over certain interactions, expose him to the right people (and hide him a bit from others), and generally manage his mood a bit. However, what I get from him outweighs all of that and he's generally a great employee.

    I'd much prefer him to an agreeable person who is mediocre at their job. In the end this person saves us all time.

    • kemiller  7 years ago

      Well that’s what I’m saying. I don’t mean there is no place for a grumpy but talented employee, just that it raises the bar. And having some merely-good but socially smart people in the mix is also very helpful.