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Le principal problème quand on traite avec une personnalité toxique c’est d’être capable de l’identifier. On entre dans le déni, surtout si c’est quelqu’un de proche de nous ou dont on dépend : « Une si bonne personne, elle a toujours été comme cela, c’est son caractère, vous me direz ». Peut-être… Mais si son…

The main problem in dealing with a toxic personality is being able to identify it. We go into denial, especially if it’s someone close to us or on whom we depend: “Such a good person, she’s always been like that, it’s her character, you’ll tell me”. But if her behavior is predictable, repetitive and inflexible,…

The psychopath is empty inside. To fill this void, he needs a persona. Like the chameleon, he adopts the characteristics of his surroundings—including the look and feel of his prey. If he has the opportunity, his prey might be you. He will take the time to learn about you on the Internet, on Facebook, and…

By Jocelyne Durand (An excerpt from my upcoming book, From Fear to Freedom: Triumphing Over Abuse and Difficult Relationships) I had parked in a parking lot in downtown Ottawa. I sprang from the car, briefcase in hand, in a hurry to get to my class. A man with a cap on his head sat in…

“In order for there to be hope, we must educate and become proactive in resolving this heartbreaking issue.” – Jocelyne Durand  The problem of dealing with difficult and abrasive personalities is pervasive and growing. In order for there to be hope, we must educate and inform and become more proactive in resolving this heartbreaking issue.…

In my early life, I had unknowingly been seduced into becoming a prisoner of an abusive relationship and had lost my physical, financial and emotional freedom in the process.  And yes, I actually later returned to this man, just like many women do after being under the spell of a dark attraction. When I eventually rewon…

In his excellent book It’s All Your Fault at Work (2015), Bill Eddy refers to five high conflict personality types that will most often show up in workplace disputes. Since you can’t evade them in the workplace, being aware of how they manifest allows you to appropriately react to them and find constructive ways to deal with…

My training as an expert in dealing with difficult behaviors was perhaps originally inspired early in my own childhood. At the age of two, I proudly sang a song for my mother that I had practiced for days. It was my sacred gift. But my mother had deep insecurities and my little presentation pushed her…

The expression “abrasive leader” is very important in the workplace. Often some of the most gifted individuals are extremely difficult to work with but because of their talent, companies want to keep them, if at all possible. The term abrasive leader “refers to any individual charged with authority, formal or informal, whose interpersonal style causes…