Search This Blog

How to Recognize and Deal with Passive Aggressive People and Malignant Narcissist's at Work



Definition of Passive-Aggressiveness

In my book, THE CONFLICT CURE, I define them as people that don't deal with conflict directly and honestly. Instead, they may pretend that everything is great, but they may hit you, the team, or the project with a dagger later.

Signs of Passive-Aggressiveness

Complain to other people                

They leave the room without saying anything about how they feel but then don't do the work, sabotage it, or delay doing it.

Give a "Cover Smile" over their true feeling, so you think everything is great but then do something behind the scenes.

Say, "I'm sorry," then repeat the offending behavior.

Use sarcastic humor or teasing to put down you or other team members and then say they are "Just joking," but the message in their humor is caustic.

Give an excuse for late or poor work on bad behavior, then repeat it. 

Seem fine to the person's face then bad mouth them behind their back

Gossip about people they don't like

Counterattack,

Sabotage the next project if they don't like what they have to do for someone.

 

Passive-Aggressiveness increases in toxic work environments, especially in groups with bullies and malignant narcissists and in situations where people at the top don't know and or don't care how employees feel.

 

What to Do

 

It's essential to find out how they are genuinely feeling as soon as possible, have them reveal it, and then deal with it directly, openly, and honestly.

 

So if you ask someone, "Can you get it for me Friday?" and they say "Yes." but give a brief grimace, pull their lips into their mouths, and pull their upper body back, their nonverbal cues are telling you they don't want to do it. Those cues tell you what the person truly feels. Please don't call them out on their behaviors; instead, investigate the problem and seek a comfortable, honest conversation.


Here is a further explanation of how to get usually passive-aggressive people to be more open, honest, and upfront.


"How do you feel about the contract?" or  "Can you get that for me by Friday?" you look for "Comfort Cues" someone gives off like shuttering their eyes, rubbing their nose or pushing up their sleeves, or freezing in place, and not matching or mirroring body language

 

From now on, you can find the truth and gain trust with phrases such as:

"What would make it easier to get it done by Friday?"

"What would make it challenging for you to get it done by Friday?"

"What changes should we make in our systems to make it easier?

"Do you want to share what's on your plate so we can re-prioritize?"

 Malignant Narcissist

1.    Lack of empathy,

2.    Need to look down on others with scorn

3.    Find Pleasure in Depriving or hurting others

4.    Play Victim Lay Blame of Don't Change.

5.    Break Boundaries

6.    Use flattery and compliments excessively

7.    Talk behind your back about you.

8.    Pit people against each other.

To deal with them

Some research suggests that their brains don't show the normal neural pathways to the brain's pleasure centers. So instead of feeling happy when someone they love is happy, they feel good when they CONTROL the happiness of others. They become addicted to the sense of power they have over someone's happiness

TO DEAL WITH THEM

Malignant Narcissists crave Narcissistic Supply. They seek and create drama. So if you have to interact with them, you can Go "grey" or what is called grey rock, giving them emotion, no anger,  not a victim like not passive, not powerful, just boring, using a monotone voice and as little expression as possible, no matter what they do to trigger you or those around you. If they want to talk, talk about the boring aspects of your day, if they talk d Will a Narcissist Come Back After No Contact? Don't give any feedback. Be dull if they get mad. Don't be triggered. You can simply listen say you get it. You can also tell them you need to go and leave any attempt by them to create drams.

The other option is NO CONTACT which means no contact, which is not always possible.

I have heard stories from my clients who did business with some of the most famous MN, such as Jeffery Epstein and Steve Bannon, and most of those stories end with them quitting their jobs or ending business relationships.

 




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Does Familiarity Make Someone More Attractive? How Can You Become More Attractive to Someone?

I am a body language expert, with degrees with an emphasis in Body Language and Nonverbal Communication. Just as the research on song shows that repetitive lyrics increase the liability of a song and the repeated playing of a song increases our liking of a song there is “Familiarity Breeds Liking and Attractiveness. Effect” I use to teach this to my students in my Body Language Class at Florida State and now I teach in my corporate training on first impressions and sales.  I told my college students “If you like someone and don’t know how to ask them out find a way to casually cross their path on campus even if just to wave or smile Don’t stalk them just pass by them once a day or once a week and overtime the familiarity breeds liking and attractiveness effect” has the potential to make the person find you attractive. This familiarity opens the possibility of a connection. Nonverbal Communication Research and Research on Attractiveness sometimes called this the “Exposure Principal.” The Exposure principle has also been shown to increase our perception of someone’s intelligence. 

Here is a research study on the topic. 

A group of 22 single people was shown pictures of 112 faces that had rated reasonably highly on a 9-point scale of attractiveness and were then asked to give their own rating out of nine.

The photos kept scrolling so faces were shown multiple times and the scores out of nine increased when faces were shown multiple times.

Rather than love at first sight, it seemed that participants experienced love at fourth sight, which was when the repetition effect was strongest. 

At the same time, the brains of the participants were scanned for electrical activity and the pattern was backed up — the more times people saw faces, the more brain wave activity associated with excitement took place.

“Much to their surprise, people often find themselves drawn to individuals after multiple encounters, even when there was no initial attraction. Cupid’s arrow is often slow to strike. An important part of the phenomenon may be attributable to the gradual change in attractiveness from repetition,” Psychologist Dr Ravi Thiruchselvam told the Daily Mail.

Not sure whether this study is encouraging for those of us who don’t have Ryan Gosling wow-factor, or a little creepy that we can effectively be brainwashed into finding people attractive if we see them enough. But it seems that when it comes to flirting if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.


Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Convention and Conference Speech and Breakout Sessions Topics Patti Wood M.A. Communication Dynamics Inc.

SNAP -Making the Most of First Impressions and Body Language Skills and Insights for the First Five Minutes

Patti is the author of, “SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma”

You are using up to 10,000 nonverbal cues in the first minute of interaction to form a SNAP impression that determines how you’ll interact with that person in that particular situation and you’re sending cues that determine what they think of you! Patti is an internationally known expert in Nonverbal Communication. In this high-energy, interactive, humor-filled program you will learn how body language and first impressions impact your interactions, improve the signals you send, and your ability to read others. Based on Patti's research and book, “SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma” this "Wow!" filled program will share the secrets inside each face-to-face and over the phone interaction. If you google Patti Wood, body language, first impressions, and or handshakes, you will see the amazing insights your audience members can gain in this program.

 

Getting What You Want From People

If you have an important idea to communicate to someone and you need to buy-in, you have a task to assign to someone and you want to make sure they follow through, or you want to make sure you will get enthusiastic participation, what’s the best way to present your message? You need to consider the personality of the person you are going to talk to and form a message and delivery style that suits them. Using DISC personality this program will teach you how to communicate more effectively.


Stand and Deliver
How to Deliver an Audience Focused Presentation
Patti is the author of “Easy Speaking”

 Whether you are a beginner or seasoned presenter, this training will enhance your abilities by giving you fresh, new tools to deliver dynamic, audience-focused presentations. Practicing these new techniques will help you powerfully connect with the audience, create buy-in and excitement.

 

Body Language and Deception Detection

Would you like to know the newest research and cutting-edge techniques to discover if someone is telling you the truth or lying?  Would you like to learn how to ask questions to get the most honest answer and or question effectively if you think they are lying? You need to be aware of what customers are saying to you and you need to be closely monitoring for honesty and deception cues given non-verbally. In addition, you will learn how to present yourself credibly in your business and personal relationships.

The Conflict Cure -Giving and Getting Criticism Effectively

Patti is the author of, “The Conflict Cure”

Do you ever feel that people are getting ruder? Perhaps all the pressure we are under is just making it harder for us to "play well with others."  After years of training people on interpersonal skills, my participants are telling me that there their coworkers are not as "co" as they used to be, and their customers can sometimes be very upset, and sometimes it is difficult to deal with our working relationships.  This program is designed to give you tools to gain confidence and skills to prevent and deal with conflict-related to giving and receiving criticism. 




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Why We Take Off Our Shoes At the Door

Shoes are part of our “armor” that protects from harm and injury in the outside world They are also part of our “uniform’ to communicate status, and wealth as well as an “artifact” that communicated our style and personality. When we take our shoes off we feel safe physically and psychologically and can shed our need to communicate are artifices like status and style. For years as a body language expert, I have noticed how most people become more comfortable and relaxed when they take off their shoes in a house and interact. The shedding seems to help us become kids again, unpretentious and more vulnerable and playful.  Now shoe bottoms have been proven to carry germs, bacteria, and other pathogens so taking them off as we enter our home actually has a new meaning. I first noticed a shoe shelf at the door of my Physician niece's family house years ago and it made me realize how serious  And that is my home and or your home is sacred and I want to help you keep it safe so I shed the dangers I am carrying on my shoes when I enter your home.  So now the act of taking off shoes by friends and home service personnel like plumbers and such seems an act of consideration and honoring of your home. I encourage shedding shoes at my house by having a special pretty carpet and standing by the door where they see two pairs of shoes already there and place for theirs I don’t even have to say anything the “shoe station” communicated the ritual for me. 

Do Face Coverings, Masks Help or Hinder Defendants in Jury Trials, Body Language of Elizabeth Holmes

Elizabeth Holmes' lawyers stated before trial that Holmes had a "strong preference" to go unmasked in the courtroom, but she did not challenge the judge's decisions regarding mask-wearing. Photo by Nick Otto/AFP via Getty Images.

Before her fall from grace, Elizabeth Holmes’ ability to court and charm establishment luminaries fueled her meteoric rise as head of Silicon Valley blood-testing company Theranos. In her ongoing criminal fraud trial, she might be hoping she can work the same magic on jurors.

But could wearing a mask weaken her defense and make her less likable in the eyes of the jury?

That question appeared top of mind for her defense team in the run-up to her federal criminal trial, which began in August in San Jose, California. Her lawyers told Judge Edward Davila that she had a “strong preference” to go unmasked. But with COVID-19 cases trending upward because of the delta variant, the judge said he would allow only testifying witnesses to go without masks. Attorneys do not have to wear them while examining witnesses.

Judges across the country are balancing public health with the right to a fair trial. In some cases, they have left it to defendants to decide if they want to wear a mask in front of jurors. And while Holmes’ case is a high-profile example, the subject of mask-wearing and whether it helps or hinders defendants is broader concern for both civil and criminal defense lawyers. They know that the nuances of facial expressions and body language are as much a part of courtroom dramas as explosive witness testimony or damning smoking-gun evidence.

Link to the rest of the article. https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/do-face-coverings-help-or-hinder-defendants


https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/do-face-coverings-help-or-hinder-defendants

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.