How strengths in overdrive lead to unwanted situations.
Annoying co-workers, we all know them. And we don't just know them. We feel hindered by them. They get in my personal space. Picking up the phone when they call turns into a big decisive moment. Until the point you start avoiding them completely or even disliking them profoundly.
Now let's see where it all starts. You are in a meeting. And while the team is trying to focus on a topic, one colleague is trying to bring the attention back to this point of the previous meeting that hasn't been solved yet. Again, and again, and again. In his or her view, it is highly important. The team already agreed that it's no longer relevant, though the dear colleague isn't satisfied.
What is happening?
Well first of all, we've got a risky situation leading towards my introduction story. Second, the team loses focus. The annoying colleague is not heard or satisfied and will possibly become either passive, with a low contribution to team efforts, or will become even more present and so, will disrupt further collaboration. The team loses performance.
A great example of strengths in overdrive. Think of this colleague as someone who loves persuading others. Or perhaps has a great analytical mind. Or maybe he or she can be really enthusiastic about certain topics and has a huge drive for specific outcomes and results that will benefit the organisation. Or maybe all of them together. All fine qualities that can help that person perform at its best, and when applied in team effort, will help the effectiveness of a team. Unless he or she goes in overdrive.
In overdrive, this person in question will try to persuade others, even when it's not beneficial or relevant to the situation. Analytical or critical people in overdrive limit the progress and flow by frequently pointing out what is wrong and what needs to be reviewed. Being overly enthusiastic becomes pushing one's view onto others, while a result focus in overdrive creates a tunnel vision. All of these together make a very pushy, overly present and annoying coworker.
How to deal with this?
Well for starters, let's regard this from a positive perspective. We have someone really engaged here! And he or she wants to make a significant difference in the team. When someone is in overdrive, up to a certain level, they are energised. They are using a strength in action. Other's see overdrive happening much before the person itself is aware of it. So when regarding this annoying coworker, consider the engagement and strengths they show and that they are completely unaware that he or she is in overdrive.
They need feedback. That starts with an empathic response, a description of your observation and the effect it has on the group. Now I won't get into the technicalities of giving feedback because there are a bucketload of instructions online you can find on that topic, but my main message is, look for the strength at work. Annoying coworkers are highly valuable. They have something to add to the team, which is their strength. So let's help eachother become aware of our strengths in overdrive.
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