We all have to deal with difficult people from time to time, and while it’s easy to assume that the problem is with them, focusing on that won’t make it any easier to work with them. Instead, try focusing on the things about them that trigger you — ask yourself why you get so offended or upset when you’re around them. That focus will help you defuse an otherwise unpleasant situation.
If the difficult person isn’t someone you can avoid — for example, a coworker you have to work with occasionally — you don’t have much choice but to get over your irritation and try to be productive. You may not be able to stop them from getting on your nerves, but the blog Dumb Little Man has a few suggestions for dealing with difficult personalities. The one we thought was most interesting is to take the focus off them and think instead about why they trigger you. If you can add some logic to your emotional reaction, you may be able to calm down quicker, let more of their behaviour roll off your back, or at least prepare yourself going into your dealings with them.
How do you deal with difficult personalities without resorting to violence or name-calling? We’ve discussed how you can deal with family that drive your nuts, but share your suggestions for working with that annoying coworker or dealing with an irritating friend in the comments below.
How to Deal with Difficult People and Have Constructive Conflict [Dumb Little Man]
Photo by CREATISTA (Shutterstock).
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