Introduction
When you’re running your own business, dealing with difficult people comes with the territory. As the owner, you’re not just responsible for the successes of your company, but also any failures that occur due to difficult clients or employees. However, you can minimize conflict by choosing your battles wisely and practicing effective communication skills with these seven tips.
Set, Clear Boundaries
Communication is key. When it comes to dealing with difficult people, sometimes all you have to do is set clear boundaries and stick to them. Rather than letting conversations with co-workers or clients, get out of hand, take control by saying: That’s an interesting point; let me research that for a moment. Then excuse yourself from your meeting or phone call and return once you’ve reached a decision that feels right for you. It can be tricky to create these lines, but once you do, be diligent about sticking to them. You'll feel more certain thus.
Listen to Their Concerns
Acknowledge that someone is upset and ask them how you can help. Say, I understand you’re frustrated, what would you like me to do? Your goal here is not to rationalize why they are wrong, but instead, just try to understand them and give them a way out of their anger. This isn’t about getting someone off your back as fast as possible—it’s about finding a solution for everyone involved.
As time goes on it gets easier to respond quickly without having to be prompted. If a new situation comes up where you haven’t used your response before simply say to yourself I haven't used my response yet. Now use it again! You'll get better at using it every time until eventually, you don't even have to think about using it because your default reaction will be using your response.
Offer Help
If a coworker is struggling, offer your support. If you’re part of a group, offer to work on one of your teammate’s projects. (You can always turn down offers of help if they aren’t quite what you had in mind.) In addition to boosting morale, offering help demonstrates leadership and responsibility – traits that recruiters value.
Offer your assistance proactively, rather than letting your coworkers or teammates come to you. It will create better working relationships and make them feel comfortable reaching out next time something comes up that requires more than just their skill set. Just be careful not to overcommit yourself; while it’s good practice to be helpful, don’t forget about any other obligations you have!
Ask Questions
If you get any sort of resistance, it might be helpful to ask questions. If a customer tells you they’re not interested, you could follow up by asking why they think that way. You could also ask them what else you can tell them about your product or service that might convince them otherwise. Find out what their hesitations are and maybe you can work around them or convince them of your value based on how others were able to benefit from working with your company.
The more information you have, the easier it will be for you to interact effectively with customers later on down the line. When there's an issue (or simply an opportunity), seek as much information as possible: from externs, market research, surveys and focus groups to internal data—your own sales figures. Just don't take too long getting those answers; remember how important time is!
Don’t Take It Personally
When dealing with difficult people, remember that it isn’t about you. It’s not personal—they may be having a bad day or simply disagree with your work. Try to find common ground and empathy for their situation, even if they aren’t showing you any of their own. Just because they aren’t acting kindly toward you doesn’t mean they don’t have good intentions—they just might be taking out their frustration on someone else.
Don’t let that get to you. Instead, consider how you can help them move forward. This can make them much more receptive to what you are saying or doing! In some cases, treating difficult people like children who need nurturing and guidance will actually yield results instead of aggravation—even if it’s unintentional on your part!
Know How To Handle Emotions Effectively
It’s hard to think clearly when we’re emotional, so it’s important that we learn how to manage those emotions. Research shows that emotional intelligence is twice as important as IQ when it comes to job performance. Recognizing your emotions and identifying how they influence you can help you manage them more effectively.
And even if you aren’t running a company or managing a team, working on your own self-awareness can set an example for others, both at work and in life. So here are some tips for dealing with difficult people without losing your cool: 1) Don’t take their words personally, 2) Do be aware of how easily you get flustered by certain personalities, 3) Stay calm and collected under pressure, 4) Validate their feelings by taking time to listen, 5) Don’t react immediately but give yourself time to consider all angles before replying.
Provide Understanding And Support
Whether you’re an employee dealing with a difficult coworker or a small-business owner who has a challenging client, it’s important to remember that some of our most heated interactions are often due to a lack of understanding. Show them you understand their needs and challenges—and that you want to support them—by keeping your tone soft and humble. And don’t be afraid to apologize if they feel they were treated poorly. You might just avoid future problems entirely!
Conclusion
When you’re beginning a new project or working with new colleagues, there are times when it can be difficult to get along. If you find yourself having trouble getting along with others at work, use these seven tips as guides to help get your company back on track. Not only will they make dealing with difficult people easier, but they might just help improve morale within your office!
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