Human beings are like works of art - they're unique, colourful and complex, but sometimes we struggle to understand what they're all about.

Whether working with colleagues, bosses, employees or customers, it is easy to get frustrated and stressed out by their whims and eccentricities.

Working with fellow humans is something I do a lot of, as both a therapist and an employee development trainer. In fact, not only do I spend time interacting with this particular species, but I often teach them how to interact better with one another.

The key to having successful relationships with others is to always choose your own words and beha

viour based on what you want to achieve in both the short-term and the long-term.

It may be tempting to snap back when someone snaps at you, to sigh and roll your eyes if someone scuppers your plans, or to engage in tit-for-tat treatment if someone becomes difficult. For those who are more passive, becoming inwardly enraged and taking all that stress home is a common response. But these responses are not effective, and will do nothing to improve the situation or the working relationship.

When working with humans, start from the understanding that people always do things for reasons, even if we aren't aware of what those reasons are. All actions have a positive intention, even if they simply go back to the primitive instinct of surviving another day.

Sometimes people "act out" because they're confused, stressed, hurting, or don't know a better way to communicate. People are a product of their environment and their upbringing, and may have learnt some unhelpful ways to communicate in the past. You never know what "stuff" a person has going on in their mind or at home.

So, start from the assumption that someone else is doing the best they can at that moment, and choose to treat them in a way that builds your relationship positively and helps you achieve your aims.

If someone seems uncooperative, find out what would make them cooperate. If a colleague clashes with you, don't take it personally, and respond with integrity. Remember that the way you treat others will affect the way you feel about yourself. Ignore attacks and frustrations, and think about how to achieve a resolution instead.

Take responsibility for managing the way you respond to others, no matter how difficult they appear to be. And recall that it takes all sorts to make up this beautiful, but quirky, world of human beings. Your own responses to others will dictate how well you cope with these complex creatures, and how much you can acheive.