Ep 77: Survive the QuaranTEEN!

Amy Cooper Hakim, author of Working With Difficult People, joins
us for a discussion on how to deal with the most common types of
difficult people, particularly when you are quarantined with
them!!


Sponsored by Equip: Eating disorder treatment
that works—delivered at home. Visit equip.health/talking for more
information, and a free consultation.


Full show notes


The global pandemic COVID-19 is causing the world to stand still.
It almost seems unreal—like a sci-fi movie. Schools are closing
rapidly, causing college students to fly home from all over the
country and primary learners to learn from online platforms.
Parents who can are working from home, making rapid adjustments
to comply with their new work routine. Situations are rapidly
changing every day, and it might seem like there’s no
consistency. But for some lucky households, one thing remains
constant: Family.


With parents working from the kitchen and children of all ages
going to school in the living room, families are taking on a new
dynamic. In some ways, it’s like living with coworkers.
Boundaries need to be set, responsibilities need to be met,
and—perhaps most importantly—conflicts need to be resolved.
Spending so much time with each other in such close quarters
might be challenging for some families, but this worldwide
phenomenon is also a chance for parents and their children to
grow closer and foster positive growth!


To understand exactly what parents can do to create the best
possible quarantine environment for their families, I spoke with
the queen of work relationships: Amy Cooper Hakim. She’s the
author of Working with Difficult People: Handling the Ten Types
of Problem People Without Losing Your Mind and holds a Ph D in
industrial organizational psychology. She’s the absolute
authority on conflict resolution in the workplace, and being
currently quarantined in Florida with several children of her own
means she has firsthand experience applying her knowledge in a
home environment!


According to Dr. Amy, two of the most crucial things parents can
do to create a functional home environment are set appropriate
boundaries and maintain an atmosphere of honesty. Although it’s
sometimes hard, Dr. Amy believes in the importance of parents
acting not only as a child’s “bestie,” but as an authority
figure. It’s the same as being a CEO or manager—you need to lead
by example, and what you say goes. In our interview, Dr. Amy
gives incredible advice on how to balance this firmer parenting
approach with one of empathy and compassion in order to show your
children not only do you love them, but you want to care for and
protect them, too!


She also shares what she plans to do during this unusual time to
teach her children valuable lessons about perseverance,
cooperation, and selflessness. With incredible optimism, Dr. Amy
sees this time as a wonderful chance for her and her family to
grow closer, and I know her advice will help you as well! In our
interview, we talk about:


Practicing tact while delivering advice and criticism to
teens

How teens often fall into one of several kinds of “difficult
people,” and how to deal with each one

Prioritizing logic over emotion in family conflicts

Specific practices parents can implement in their homes to
bring their families closer during quarantine!



During such odd times, it’s a joy to hear from someone so
experienced and so optimistic about what families can do to bring
out the best in each other. If you’re concerned over how you
should be handling this quickly evolving situation, I highly
encourage you to listen in! Dr. Amy is sure to have some advice
that applies directly to you, and your family.


Sponsored by Equip: Eating disorder treatment
that works—delivered at home. Visit equip.health/talking for more
information, and a free consultation.