Have you ever thought to yourself, “Life sure would be a lot easier if I didn’t have to deal with this person,” or “If this person would just leave me alone, I would be happier?”

Whether you work in a traditional office environment or at home running your own business, encountering difficult people is inevitable. It could be a co-worker that doesn’t share your view of common courtesy, or a client that refuses to act as professionally as you would like.

Either way, learning how to deal with difficult people is an important skill that will not only reduce your frustration while at work, but also set your relationships on a new, more productive course.

Here are a few tips that you can start using right now to better deal with people whom you determine “difficult”:

– Forgive. Ask yourself, “What is it about this situation or person that I can seek to understand and forgive?” Everyone says hurtful things from time to time, but at our very core most of us are “good people.”

– Wait it out. When you’re in the middle of a fiery situation, give yourself time to cool down before responding, if you choose to respond at all. Emotionally charged responses seldom get us the results we want; they only add fuel to the fire.

– Ask yourself, “Does it really matter if I am right?” If you find yourself arguing for the sake of being right, ask, “Does it really matter if I am right?” If yes, then ask, “Why do I need to be right? What will I gain?”

– Stop talking about it. Instead of continuing to think and talk about difficulties, stop. Doing so takes energy away from the difficult situation and allows you to focus on more productive matters instead.

– Try on their shoes. Before making up your mind about the other person, consider how you may have hurt their feelings. You may find a different perspective, which can help you develop compassion for that person.

– Look for lessons. Many times, difficult situations provide us with lessons that help us to grow and become better people. Search for your lessons.

– List the thing(s) in your life most important to you. Then ask yourself, “How will reacting to this person or situation contribute to the things that matter most to me?” Your answer will help you determine your next move.

– Express yourself appropriately. Make it a priority to learn how to give and receive feedback in an effective way. Then, practice.

– Be honest with yourself as to whether you are better off making a change. There will be times when situations grow beyond “resolution in place.” If your current environment no longer meets your needs and goals, consider whether it is better for you to leave.

We seldom get to choose whether or not we encounter difficult people, but we do have a choice in how we deal with them. By implementing these approaches into your more trying relationships, you choose to be proactive when it comes to understanding the feelings, thoughts and actions of others. Most importantly, you develop the people skills it takes to become more successful in your career.

Sylvia Henderson is a Charter Member & Community Reporter with the Village Connector Community News. She is also an Interpersonal skills & personal branding expert. Sylvia hosts a cable TV program focusing on business & professional development called “Think About It!”. See: ThinkAboutIt.TV for air times. Sign up for monthly content and bring Sylvia to your organization at: Springboard Training

Sylvia Henderson is a Charter Member & Community Reporter with the Village Connector Community News. She is also an Interpersonal skills & personal branding expert. She helps people SHOW they’re as great as they say they are. Sylvia hosts a cable TV program focusing on business & professional development called “Think About It!”. See: http://ThinkAboutIt.TV for air times. Sign up for monthly content and bring Sylvia to your organization at: http://SpringboardTraining.com

Author Bio: Sylvia Henderson is a Charter Member & Community Reporter with the Village Connector Community News. She is also an Interpersonal skills & personal branding expert. Sylvia hosts a cable TV program focusing on business & professional development called “Think About It!”. See: ThinkAboutIt.TV for air times. Sign up for monthly content and bring Sylvia to your organization at: Springboard Training

Category: Relationships
Keywords: relationships, advice