difficult buggers

I've just been listening to a great podcast - Lisa Haneberg having a 'fireside chat' with Johnnie Moore. There's a lot of good stuff in there but I was especially strucken by the observation that often in a discussion it's the 'difficult people' who have the most to contribute. (I'm probably precising horribly there.)

I think this is as true with the creation of work as it is with discussion and debate. A key thing for planners who want to work with great creative people is to realise that their irritating, unreasonable behaviour is often exactly what you need to make remarkable stuff. At a human level it can be deeply  irritating (and the infantilisation of creative people is one of the least attractive of advertising's crimes agaisnt decency) but the difficult buggers, the ones who demand to be heard, are often the ones with something to say. You need to find a way to stay in the room with them and to turn that irritation into work.

Blimey.

I've been getting very deep recently. Must take more pictures of things on the telly.

Comments

[Servant of Chaos]

I had similar thoughts when listening in. It reminded me that difficult people are labelled as difficult because they often have a position and are willing to defend it with a passion. And in any creative project, you want that passion and energy to shine through. And, of course, sometimes WE are the ones being difficult.

[Johnnie Moore]

Thanks... I was thinking about this some more over the weekend. In one of those psychological profiles (Belbin?) I fitted two slots.. either Faciliator or Troublemaker. I kind of recognise that paradox. And I know I can easily slip into either role.

So sometimes instead of being all-facilitator-like, I find myself being provocative and disruptive. So I get the whole "difficult" thing from the inside as it were.

This also reminds me of the group effect... when someone is being "difficult" they are simply taking a job that is left unfilled; in one sense they are speaking for the group even though they appear to be on their own.

[russell]

I'm always the sulky, eye-rolling, know-it-all type. Who then leaves feeling chastened at the enthusiasm of everyone else.

I hate doing discussions, because the y always seem to bring out the worst in me.

Clearly I need professional help.