Surviving an Unreliable Colleague

Unreliable people are frustrating to work with. This course provides practical strategies to deal with an unreliable colleague that you can learn and implement. Behavioral expert Peter Quarry recommends giving the unreliable colleague feedback, using a simple formula, to explain why their behavior causes problems.

Peter offers a more powerful approach to hold them to account if they continue to be unreliable. You can try appealing to their personal brand and their desire to look good, by getting them to make promises in front of others. Praise them and thank them if they deliver; otherwise hold them to account – all in front of others.

Key Learning Points
If someone’s unreliability is driving you crazy Peter Quarry suggests:
•    Give them feedback – explain why this is a problem.
•    Use the formula “When you... It’s a problem for me because... In future...”
•    Encourage them to make promises in front of others and praise them when they deliver.
•    Leverage their ‘personal brand’ – the desire to look good.
•    Hold them to account – publicly.

By the end of this course, learners should be able to:
•    Apply some simple strategies to deal with an unreliable colleague
•    Identify specific examples and give them feedback, explaining why it is a problem
•    Use the formula “When you... It’s a problem for me because... In future...”
•    Transform the situation by encouraging them to make promises in front of others and praise them when they deliver
•    Utilize their ‘personal brand’ – leverage their desire to look good
•    Hold them to account – publicly

This course is part of the 2 Minutes To Success Series created by Psychologist Eve Ash. A series of two minute microlearning programs from psychology experts with practical advice and techniques to help you tackle workplace problems and be more productive less stressed improve your image and regain control of your life. There are programs to deal with challenging people and situations and strategies for professional development and managing yourself and others.