Yes. Yes. Yes. It would be ideal if everyone was pleasant and accommodating of everyone else's ideas at all times. There are usually ways to 'win' or otherwise

Yes. Yes. Yes. It would be ideal if everyone was pleasant and accommodating of everyone else's ideas at all times. There are usually ways to 'win' or otherwise arrive at the correct solution without having to browbeat everyone into submission. IMO the people who can do this tend to be good at a lot of other things; they are just talented people, and in my experience end up being the 'good' higher level management and technical leadership. That said, I think you are seriously oversimplifying the work environment. People are frequently overworked; or participating in a group where other people are trying to make decisions they don't have the experience to make (but don't realize it); or are having decisions made in front of them about the effort they will expend towards x, without their input, by people who do not understand what they are asking and/or don't care; or are otherwise not being given the level of respect they deserve. Consider that some of these people take a lot of pride in what they do and are personally invested in the success of their work. Consider that over time, in this situation, these people may become grumpy and combative. And that's just in the work environment. I don't personally have a work/life balance, but other people I know do have this and sometimes their personal troubles bleed over into their work behavior. We're not all able to compartmentalize. This is a long-winded way of asking you not to jump to the conclusion that there is something wrong with the personality of your grumpy coworker. Consider that maybe it's an effect, and that you could even have helped cause it.