Di Same Knife Weh Stick Sheep, Stick Goat
“Personality is like a
charioteer with two headstrong horses, each wanting to go in different
directions.”- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Have you ever come across someone who behaves as if the world revolves around them? I bet you have. There is a tendency for us to judge individuals by the personality they display. It is important to note that we all possess varied personalities; some of us are introverted while others are extroverted. We all know of that person who smiles with the entire office and behind the backs of the individuals they cut their throats. Such individuals are not trust worthy and are to be avoided. The Judas Iscariot Effect is alive and well after more than two thousand years. The narcissist will sup with you and throw you under the bus the first time of asking. Unsurprisingly, many of these individuals hold supervisory and management positions in the workplace; narcissism is more popular than we are led to believe. Many of us can identity one or more individuals who display controlling and manipulative behaviours. We have to be mindful of those individuals; many of whom supposedly are in need of counselling and therapy. As Jamaicans we are fully aware of the proverbs, di same knife whe stick sheep stick goat. The mix of personality traits makes for an interesting work experience as well as in relationships. According to Mayo Clinic, narcissistic personality disorder one of several types of personality disorders is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. The Mayo Clinic added that behind this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism. A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they are not given the special favors or admiration they believe they deserve. Such individuals may find their relationships unfulfilling, and others may not enjoy being around them. Those individual who fall into that personality type are mainly concerned about themselves and will unashamedly use others to achieve their objectives. Having said that we are all different; the formation of one’s personality stems from a myriad of factors, from DNA, socialization, trauma, and the interaction with others. There are those who build a fence around them in order to protect themselves from being hurt. This personality trait prevents genuine friendships from developing since the individual has an issue trusting others. It bares thought that workplace relationships can become strained. In an atmosphere of narcissism there exists a pretentious spirit where productivity is lower. Unfortunately, most Human Resources (HR) departments have failed to repair broken relationships borne out of a culture of narcissism. Perhaps, it’s no fault of the HR department since psychologists and psychiatrists are not usually part of this department thus limiting the effectiveness of the HR department in this instance. Maybe the time has come for multinationals, schools and businesses in general to have a department of added support of psychologists and psychiatrists to assist where needed. We all have to co-exist in the shared workplace space and as such we must try to get along with each other. In getting along with each other we must find a coping mechanism to tolerate our colleagues. In moving forward one has to do one’s evaluation of one’s colleagues and make the necessary adjustments to live a peaceful life as much as possible.
In the words of Shannon L. Alder “being different is a revolving door in your life where secure people enter and insecure exit.”
@WayneCamo
©
Have you ever come across someone who behaves as if the world revolves around them? I bet you have. There is a tendency for us to judge individuals by the personality they display. It is important to note that we all possess varied personalities; some of us are introverted while others are extroverted. We all know of that person who smiles with the entire office and behind the backs of the individuals they cut their throats. Such individuals are not trust worthy and are to be avoided. The Judas Iscariot Effect is alive and well after more than two thousand years. The narcissist will sup with you and throw you under the bus the first time of asking. Unsurprisingly, many of these individuals hold supervisory and management positions in the workplace; narcissism is more popular than we are led to believe. Many of us can identity one or more individuals who display controlling and manipulative behaviours. We have to be mindful of those individuals; many of whom supposedly are in need of counselling and therapy. As Jamaicans we are fully aware of the proverbs, di same knife whe stick sheep stick goat. The mix of personality traits makes for an interesting work experience as well as in relationships. According to Mayo Clinic, narcissistic personality disorder one of several types of personality disorders is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. The Mayo Clinic added that behind this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism. A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they are not given the special favors or admiration they believe they deserve. Such individuals may find their relationships unfulfilling, and others may not enjoy being around them. Those individual who fall into that personality type are mainly concerned about themselves and will unashamedly use others to achieve their objectives. Having said that we are all different; the formation of one’s personality stems from a myriad of factors, from DNA, socialization, trauma, and the interaction with others. There are those who build a fence around them in order to protect themselves from being hurt. This personality trait prevents genuine friendships from developing since the individual has an issue trusting others. It bares thought that workplace relationships can become strained. In an atmosphere of narcissism there exists a pretentious spirit where productivity is lower. Unfortunately, most Human Resources (HR) departments have failed to repair broken relationships borne out of a culture of narcissism. Perhaps, it’s no fault of the HR department since psychologists and psychiatrists are not usually part of this department thus limiting the effectiveness of the HR department in this instance. Maybe the time has come for multinationals, schools and businesses in general to have a department of added support of psychologists and psychiatrists to assist where needed. We all have to co-exist in the shared workplace space and as such we must try to get along with each other. In getting along with each other we must find a coping mechanism to tolerate our colleagues. In moving forward one has to do one’s evaluation of one’s colleagues and make the necessary adjustments to live a peaceful life as much as possible.
In the words of Shannon L. Alder “being different is a revolving door in your life where secure people enter and insecure exit.”
Wayne
Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in
development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com@WayneCamo
©
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