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How to work with difficult people is something you come across all the time. Sometimes the difficult people are unexpected. Sometimes the difficult people are people you love personally but professionally they can be a challenge. Working with difficult people is the focus of this blog post. We will explore how to work with difficult people.
Don’t be Surprised
Recently I was on a business trip that I was very much looking forward to. The group that I was to travel with I had known earlier and anticipated that it would be a pleasant experience. I had many conversations with one of my colleagues about work style and what we believed were shared principles and ideas.
Well, nothing could surprise me more than to find that most of what she presented herself to be was not quite the case and that it turned out that she was not only quite disagreeable but also extremely controlling.
Getting Along when Working with Difficult People
The other colleague was not too surprised because she has experienced this side of her and resigned herself to just comply in silence. I have learned that you are not doing yourself any favors by going along to get along. In business you must be able to advocate for yourself and the things that you stand for. You cannot allow anyone to disrespect you no matter what position or title they hold.
How do you Address the Difficult Person
How you handle this can be tricky. If it is a client that you can choose not to do business with then you are able to do so. If you are in a group situation and the need to work together is a must. Then you can choose to decide how to address the situation professionally.
Choosing to have the Conversation
Many people believe that in order to address a situation it is going to result in some sort of argument. You decide, if it is worth it and how you will address it. You may also decide to just get through the project or event and move on.
In some cases, this may be someone you are going to work with on future assignments and so in that case it may be better to have a conversation with that person. Try not to choose a moment where it may not be productive or when you are at your breaking point.
The Conversation when Working with Difficult People
The conversation should steer clear of finger pointing. Just stick to the issue at hand and if you can add some examples to support what you are saying this may be helpful. Remember everyone handles things differently. If they do not receive what you are saying or simply blow you off, know that you have tried.
Many times, this is not the first time they are hearing these things about themselves, and they may appreciate the fact that you were brave and kind enough to have the conversation with them rather than run around and gossip about them behind their back. The Value of a Positive Attitude
The Lessons Learned when Working with Difficult People
There is always a lesson to every challenge and how to work with difficult people can help you learn some valuable lessons. One lesson is that it allows you to strengthen your ability to have patience and focus on the task at hand. The second lesson is that you could be that difficult person (smile).
We can go through life believing that we are not the problem and that can cause many issues. True growth allows us the freedom to be a blessing to others no matter what environment we find ourselves in. Until next week my readers continue to …….
Live Your Dreams out Loud
