Do you know how powerful health care professionals are when it comes to communication? Whether you're working with a patient, a peer or a supervisor, the way you approach a situation can affect the outcome. Perhaps there's a co-worker with whom you dread sharing an assignment because he or she always seems to have a negative attitude. Maybe you've avoided that person in the halls and on breaks; at staff meetings, you sit on the opposite side of the room. Maybe you've even noticed that other people act the same way toward him or her.

Now you've been given a direct assignment to work with him or her. Already you're thinking that that coworker is going to complain about the extra work and that you'll end up doing the lion's share of the project.Stop. You're setting yourself up. You have the power to change your attitude and ultimately influence the outcome of the assignment.

Psychologist Wayne Dyer has made a fortune writing and lecturing about the power of the mind's eye. His book "You'll See It When You Believe It" was first published in 1986, but the advice in the book still holds.

Basically, Dyer's approach is to picture the outcome you want from a situation, then firmly believe in that outcome. As you visualize the results, you'll be open to seeing the steps to arrive at that goal.

For example, if you think that sharing a project with this co-worker will be a negative experience, you're probably right. If you assume that he or she will be a willing participant, however, you can begin to frame your approach to create success. Think about how you can influence a positive result.

Without sounding trite, put yourself in that person's shoes before the first meeting. Your co-worker may be dreading the project; he or she may be intimidated by the assignment or wary about working with someone who he or she perceives as being a more capable employee. The co-worker may also have challenges outside the organization - family, finances or other stressors - that are affecting workplace performance.

Take time to reach out and get to know this co-worker. Ask questions instead of making assumptions, and listen to the the answers. Look for cues that can open a door to better communication. If he or she mentions family, follow up with another question after thoughtfully considering what that person is saying.

Make it a practice to look beyond first impressions. Have you instantly judged someone while failing to factor in their outside challenges? Do you instantly think that you're the cause of someone's abrupt answer or snub? Sometimes, a person's reaction has little to do with the current situation.

Be aware of your co-worker's style, and resolve to be open to his or her way of handling assignments. Give that person some credit; after all, he or she was hired by the same organization that put its trust in your abilities. If you can get past your initial impressions by taking a positive approach, you may be surprised at what you can accomplish.