How to deal with difficult people at work

1. @TheLessonsGuy How to Deal with Difficult People at Work

2. Handling difficult people is an inevitable part of life, be it your boss, clients, peers, or even people from other departments. So what exactly do you mean when you coin the term difficult? Each of us has a unique thinking process, which is a culmination of our values, environment, experience, and so forth. Because of this, we may not be able to accept or understand the way some people behave or respond in a particular scenario. When there are differences in opinion, we find it hard to deal with them. Learning the skill to handle difficult people is challenging yet rewarding.

3. Pre-requisites • Self-Analysis Before you take any action, first you need to understand yourself. • Identify your personality, choices, interests and define the kind of person you are • Analyze the types of situation that irritate you • List down the minimum and maximum levels you can tolerate these situations. Some people will get annoyed when there is a small error in a document while others might find it perfectly reasonable to make such silly mistakes Before you tag someone as being difficult, try to analyze whether it is their action or your overreaction that is creating the issue.

4. Stay Calm When you are in situations that are tough or difficult, don’t let your emotions take control of you. Look at the scenario objectively and not personally, because our intension is to handle these situations reasonably well for a win-win situation. The best approach here is to stay calm if you are getting agitated take a break and resume the conversation at a later time As per human psychology, people tend to mirror and mimic the emotion of the other. If you can control your emotions and stay calm, it could help handle the situation and put across your point in a better manner

5. Be Professional Separate the person from the issue. Always be soft on person and firm on the issue. Don’t be judgemental, discuss the issue based on facts and figures, and make a record of communications. When at work, we generally have three categories of people that we have to handle on a day to day basis. • Your boss • Co-Workers • Subordinates

6. 1) How to deal with a difficult boss • Communicate Frequently A gap in communication is one of the primary reasons that spoils any relationship. Have regular conversations with your manager, give timely updates about the work you do, when possible, engage in conversations outside of your work. These conversations will help both you and your manager to be on the same page • Understand your boss’s priorities Try to understand the priorities of your manager. For some, reporting to the office on time might be a priority as for others, it could be coming in well-groomed. Whatever that might be, it will be in your best interest to follow. I know it is a bummer, but as long as you are not the one running the company, you might need to make some adjustments.

7. Pick up on the triggers Be aware of the triggers that make your boss angry so that you will be able to act according to the situation. We all have patterns that we follow in our daily life if you can read them, it is going to make your life so much simpler. • Understand and accept their perspectives There can be conflicts between your perspectives and your boss, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that one is right, and the other is wrong. Try to understand and accept these differences if nothing works, learn to let go as it might not be worth fighting with your boss.

8. If you don’t agree, there is an interesting video on YouTube about this, or you could read the book version 48 Laws of Power • Empathize with your boss Most of the time, they are not doing something deliberately to make things miserable for you. Learn to live with your boss and make sure you take responsibility for your part in the relationship. Empathize with your boss that way you can understand their reasons behind their behavior and maybe alleviate some of your bottled up frustration

9. Set the boundaries Be professional and set your boundaries. Communicate your aspirations and constrains and stand up for yourself. • Negative talks No matter how difficult your manager is, never do talk behind their back as it most often backfires. • Seek help If nothing works, escalate to higher authorities in your organization, If that isn’t working either leave and look for a better roll of the dice.

10. 2) How to deal with difficult co-workers • Listen Communicate with them and try to understand their concerns and help if that is within your scope. • Understand their intentions Analyze the situation where you had a bad experience with your colleague. Don’t get baited into unprofessional behaviors or arguments, but try to understand their intentions • Avoid unhealthy Competition Some co-workers may be insecure by your success, leading them to feel unsafe around you. Improve collaboration but have evidence of your work.

11. Refrain from Gossips Do not indulge yourself in gossips. They are not facts and add little to no value to your life. If you involve yourself in such conversations, chances are this person will share what you said with others, which could have significant ramifications. • Seek Help If required, mention it to your boss and seek help to manage these types of co-workers

12. 3) How to handle difficult employees • Positive Approach Discuss with such a person to understand the root cause of those unreasonable behaviors. If it has any connection with the work environment, fix it. • Communicate Expectations: Set goals for the individual and communicate expectations. Ensure that the employee knows how to maintain the decorum within the team and the consequences of not following them.

13. Provide Feedback at the right time Mention specific instances where you felt the employee behaved inappropriately within the team or to you. Discuss in private under the presence of a neutral person like the HR • Discipline Insubordination If your efforts are still not effective in improving employee’s overall attitude, Initiate disciplinary actions.

14. Conclusion One response does not fit all, and you may have to remain flexible. Although these guidelines on how to deal with difficult people at work have proven effective in diluting tough situations, every person is unique and has to be dealt with differently. These are the ways in how to deal with difficult people at work Thank You!! Read Latest articles from @The Lessons Guy • How to Improve Communication with Spouse • How to gain more confidence