Up next in How to Improve Your Communication Skills (68 videos)
Whether you're dealing with friends, family, a lover, or co-workers, you'll benefit from the communication skills taught in this Howcast video series.
You Will Need
- A bad roommate
- A calm disposition
- And a willingness to compromise
Steps
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Step 1
Confront the problem
Let the person know you’re unhappy. He may not be aware he’s doing things that bug you.
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Step 2
Get feedback
Ask him what you do that annoys him. This way, he won’t feel he’s being attacked.
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Step 3
Negotiate
Negotiate. Tell him that if he stops blowing his nose in the dishtowels, you’ll stop doing yoga in the nude.
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Step 4
Set some rules
Decide on some house rules, like how loudly and when music can be played; how often friends can come over and/or sleep over; how clean the bathroom and kitchen should be, and how to handle offensive smells in those rooms.
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Consider drawing up a 'roommate contract' that spells out the house rules. Many colleges now require them for dorm mates.
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Step 5
Alter your schedule
Adjust your schedule to minimize the time you’re together. For example, make plans to go out on evenings he’s planning to kick back at home.
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Step 6
Kill him with kindness
Kill him… with kindness. Bring home the cookies he likes; offer to wash the dishes when you know he’s running late; make him chicken soup when he’s sick. If you change your attitude, he might do the same.
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Step 7
Terminate the agreement
Still not getting along? Take steps to terminate the arrangement, whether that means speaking to a Residence Assistant about getting a new roommate, or asking your landlord if you can break your lease.
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Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman were once roommates.
