IFMA Program - How to Manage Narcissists, Naysayers, and Know-It-Alls

At one time or another, most of us have had the unpleasant experience of working with or working for problematic people. We may have even read a book or attended a session on “Dealing with Difficult People.” But, what if you are facing the worst of the worst when it comes to difficult people? We are not talking about the average “Negative Nellies” or “Gary Grumblers.” Those two are downright pleasant compared to these personalities. Do you have the skillset to effectively handle such people, or better yet, the techniques to weed out these bad actors during the interview phase? When it comes to destructive personalities in the workplace, Narcissists, Naysayers, and Know-It-Alls are often a chaotic and malignant force that ripples through teams and organizations. Unfortunately, many of us are woefully unprepared for encounters with this group and end up frustrated and bruised, or worse, as a result.

Join me as I provide helpful dossiers for each personality type and show you how to identify these traits early, during the interview process. If you are unfortunate enough to already work with or for one of these individuals, I will give you the strategies to protect yourself and others from their behaviors to reduce turnover, increase team morale, and prevent the costly effects this uniquely devastating trio can inflict on your organization’s culture, morale, and talent retention.

Our Speaker:

Wayne Whitzell, FMP, SFP LEED®AP, BEP, GBO

Wayne Whitzell has been an active member in IFMA since 2000. He is IFMA’s 2018 International Distinguished Member of the Year. In 2015, he was selected as IFMA’s Associate of the Year at IFMA’s World Workplace in Denver and was selected as IFMA’s Distinguished Author of the Year in 2016 and 2021. He is the Vice President for IFMA’s Corporate Facilities Council and the Past President of IFMA East Bay. Over the years, he has held various chapter positions such as Sustainability Committee Chair, Website Chair, and Sacramento Valley Chapter Vice President. He has presented ten sessions at IFMA’s World Workplace international conferences and has presented at several IFMA chapter and council events and Facility Fusion. He supports the IFMA Foundation initiatives by routinely speaking at local schools and colleges about a career in FM. Wayne is the President for DFS Green, a company which specializes in workplace health diagnostics and verification, and maintaining carpet, fabrics, tile & grout, and natural stone across the United States.