Problem People

Solution

1.  Latecomer

1.  Start meeting on time and lock the door.  Asks them to take notes at next meeting.

2.  Early Leaver

2.  Ask everyone at beginning of meeting if they can stay.

3.  Broken Record

3.  Write down issue and come back to it later.

4.  Doubting Dave

4.  Puts everything down.  Tell group in advance that you will not evaluate ideas for a while.

5.  Head Shaker

5.  Non-verbally disagrees. Rolls eye, shakes head.  First ignore, then confront.

6.  Drop Out

6.  Doodles in back of room.  Ask direct questions.

7.  Whisperer

7.  Walk up close.  "Do you want to share with the group?"

8.  Loudmouth

8.  Move closer and maintain eye contact until you are right in front of them.  Shift focus to someone else.

9.  Attacker

9.  Move between the two getting them to talk to you, rather than to each other. 

10.  Interpreter

10.  Always speaks for others.  "Let Bill speak for himself - please go on and finish Bill..."

11. Gossiper

11.  Try to verify info and report back to group later.

12.  Know-It-All

12.  "We acknowledge your expertise but we're tackling the problem as a group and need some new insights..."

13.  Backseat Driver

13.  Keeps telling you what you should be doing.  When they criticize you, ask them to suggest a procedure and check it out with group.  If all agree, do it.  If not, backseat driver's argument is with group, not you.

14. Busybody

14.  Ducking in and out of meeting.  Schedule meeting before office hours to minimize distractions.

15. Interrupter

15.  "Hold on Pat, let Sue finish..."  Encourage them on break to write down all their ideas.